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Giấy phép số 4978/GP-TTĐT do Sở Thông tin và Truyền thông Hà Nội cấp ngày 14 tháng 10 năm 2019 / Giấy phép SĐ, BS GP ICP số 2107/GP-TTĐT do Sở TTTT Hà Nội cấp ngày 13/7/2022.
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On March 20, 2026, Mr. Vuong (from China) was browsing the internet when his phone suddenly froze. The screen turned black, displayed an upgrade notification, and became unresponsive. Despite several restarts, the device did not respond. The condition lasted about 30 minutes. After that, the phone resumed normal operation. As soon as it restarted, Mr. Vuong received a flurry of charge notices from his bank and found three unusual transactions at a different location, totaling over 10,000 RMB (about more than 38 million VND).
The incident reflects a new scam trend in which criminals can steal money without requiring the victim to take action, as long as they can control the device. Authorities describe it as a form of fraud using malware (Trojan) with multiple layers of sophisticated camouflage.
According to authorities, the common factor among victims is that their phones were infected with malware beforehand without their knowledge. The cause typically comes from clicking suspicious links, scanning QR codes from unknown sources, or installing apps outside official app stores.
After infiltration, the malware does not activate immediately. Instead, it lies in wait until the attacker finds an opportunity. When triggered, the attacker activates the malware to take remote control of the phone. At that moment, the screen is locked and displays a fake message such as “upgrading the system,” leading the user to believe the device has a normal technical fault.
During the immobilized period, important messages—especially OTP codes or bank notifications—are blocked. The user cannot see signs that money is being withdrawn. Exploiting this window, attackers use personal information and data collected to carry out transactions, online payments, link wallets, or purchase goods through third parties. The entire process typically lasts 20–30 minutes.
Experts say the danger of this scam lies in the “no interaction” factor. Users do not receive calls and do not click links at the moment of the incident, which can create complacency and make the risk harder to detect. In a context where mobile phones increasingly function as “electronic wallets” holding financial and personal information, even a brief lapse can lead to large losses.
Signs that may appear simple—such as the screen suddenly going dark or the device losing control—can be the moment a covert attack is underway.
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