Simply leaving a comment to purchase a product on social media can make users a target of online scams. Fraudsters monitor shopping groups and sales posts, then target public comments that include phone numbers or clearly show purchasing intent. They then proactively add the victims on Zalo, impersonating shop owners or staff, providing matching order information, and requesting a deposit or full prepayment. Because the conversation content aligns with the users’ expressed needs, many people lower their guard and transfer money to accounts provided by the scammers.

The danger lies in the fact that these scammers exploit publicly shared user data to deceive the users themselves. They identify potential “targets,” use available information and product images from the original posts to build credibility, and at the same time urge victims to transfer money quickly with reasons such as “out of stock” or “need to confirm the order soon,” playing on the fear of missing out. Once the money is transferred, victims can hardly recover it, while the real shop owners are completely unaware of the transaction.

Bkav experts recommend that people:

• Limit publicly sharing phone numbers and addresses in the comment sections of sales posts, groups, or social media interactions.

• Only place orders through the shop’s official channels; be cautious of unfamiliar Zalo accounts initiating contact first.

• Carefully check the recipient account information; prioritize cash on delivery (COD) payment.

• If there is any request for payment that differs from the initial information, verify directly with the shop.

• If you suspect a scam, immediately contact your bank and the police for assistance.

shared by an online shop owner whose customer fell victim to this scam

Bkav