Police warn citizens planning to travel abroad about online visa scam schemes

Police warn citizens planning to travel abroad about online visa scams Recently, the Criminal Police Department of Hung Yen Province Police said that online fraud in cyberspace continues to become more complex with many increasingly sophisticated tricks. Although not new, perpetrators frequently vary the scripts, staying attuned to current events and real social needs to build trust and lure people into traps. One tactic exploited by criminals is the demand for visas to go abroad for study, travel, work or visiting relatives. Exploiting the desire to complete procedures quickly and at low cost, criminals promote a 'visa online' service with promises of fast handling, then seek to seize people's money and assets. According to information from the Criminal Police Department of Hung Yen Province Police, the perpetrators commonly use social networks to target people who want to obtain a visa but lack information or do not fully understand the process. After contacting, they pose as organizations, units, or individuals who offer visa consultation with fast processing times and low costs. To build trust, the perpetrators invite victims to join Facebook groups they create. In these groups, many accounts post images of visas issued quickly along with comments thanking and sharing positive experiences. However, these images and comments are fabricated by members of the same scam network to mislead people into trusting them. Once trust is established, the criminals will directly contact individuals via Facebook messages, requesting them to 'verify finances' by transferring money to a bank account they provide, with promises of refund after condition verification for visa eligibility. However, when victims demand refunds, the perpetrators offer various excuses and require additional money in a certain 'syntax' or other method to receive the previously transferred funds. With this method, many people have had their entire money transferred stolen. The Hung Yen Provincial Police Department's Criminal Police advises citizens to stay vigilant when approaching visa services advertised on social media. Do not trust visa online promises with fast timelines and low costs, and be cautious when joining groups introduced by strangers online. Moreover, citizens should never share personal information, bank account data, or other sensitive data with unverified organizations or individuals on cyberspace. Transferring money to unfamiliar bank accounts at the request of strangers should also be treated with caution. If you need a visa for work or personal purposes, contact directly with the competent authorities or the Immigration Administration of the Provincial Police for guidance in accordance with regulations. If you detect suspicious indicators related to visa online scam activities, report them to the police or local authorities promptly for handling according to law. In addition, people should actively share information about the methods and tricks used by scammers with family, friends, and the community. Spreading these warnings will help many people stay vigilant, proactively prevent, and protect their assets. (Source: Hung Yen Provincial Police) Read more