Many people preparing for retirement or receiving social insurance benefits are becoming targets of a sophisticated online scam. Criminals impersonate officials from social insurance agencies or government offices, calling victims to inform them about supposed “assistance for pension and social benefit payments.” They then instruct victims to add them on Zalo, log in to VNeID or VssID applications, or transfer money to a “verification account.” Trusting the scammers, many victims have fallen into the trap.

To appear credible, the fraudsters send fake images, logos, and forged seals, and even make live video calls to guide victims step-by-step through the “verification” or transfer process. As a result, many people have lost their entire pension or social benefit payments within minutes.

Cybersecurity experts emphasize that social insurance agencies, banks, and the police never require citizens to transfer money to personal accounts for any administrative procedures. To avoid becoming victims of online scams, the public should take note:

• Never share personal information, bank account numbers, or OTP codes via phone or Zalo.

• Do not scan QR codes, click on unknown links, or transfer money for “profile verification.”

• Be cautious with unverified websites or applications: do not click “allow,” do not copy/paste commands, and do not download apps from strange links. Such actions can cause your device to become infected with viruses or malware, leading to financial loss and data exposure.

If you have already clicked or downloaded an unverified application, immediately disconnect from the Internet and change your passwords using a secure device. It is crucial to scan your system with professional antivirus software, as the built-in antivirus solutions bundled with operating systems are designed only for basic protection and are insufficient against modern ransomware and advanced persistent malware designed to remain hidden and deeply embedded in the system.

Bkav