Hanoi Police Warn of Fraudulent Securities Company Impersonation Scams

Hanoi Police have warned of an increasing number of investment fraud scams where criminal groups impersonate legitimate securities companies and fund management firms. They create fake websites mimicking official platforms and use social media to lure investors into accounts controlled by fraudsters, then demand additional payments under the guise of taxes and fees.

How the Scam Works

Fraudulent groups operate through the following steps:

Preparation: Criminal groups collect publicly available information about legitimate securities companies and fund management firms, including company names, logos, addresses, leadership photos, and service details.
Fake Website Creation: They design websites that closely mimic official platforms. Fraudulent domain names often differ from the legitimate site by only a few characters and use confusing or similar naming conventions.
Promotion: Fake links are distributed through social media, text messages, and investment-related chat groups to reach potential victims.
Building Trust: Imposters claim to be "experts," "investment advisors," or "customer service specialists," offering attractive investment opportunities such as high-yield funds, stock purchases, VIP room memberships, or exclusive expert groups.
Account Setup: Victims are guided to open accounts on fake platforms and make deposits under pretexts such as "account activation," "identity verification," "transaction limit increase," or "preferential stock purchases."
Fake Profit Display: The fraudulent system initially shows increasing profits, creating the illusion of successful investment returns.
Continuous Demands: When investors attempt to withdraw funds, scammers demand additional payments under various guises—taxes, transaction fees, authentication fees, or withdrawal charges—and request further transfers.

Warning Signs

Be alert to these characteristics:

Domain Name Discrepancies: Website domains resemble but do not exactly match legitimate sites
Suspicious Links: Links sent from personal accounts, closed groups, or unverified sources
Aggressive Solicitation: Advisors continuously pressure you to send money or guarantee high, certain profits
Personal Account Transfers: Instructions to transfer funds to personal accounts rather than official corporate accounts
Credential Requests: Requests for passwords, OTP codes, or banking information that legitimate companies would never ask for
Continuous Additional Fees: Claims that further payments are required before withdrawing funds

Prevention Steps

Use Official Websites: Never access company websites through unfamiliar links. Instead, directly type the official website address into your browser.
Verify Domain Names: Confirm that the website domain name exactly matches the legitimate company's official domain.
Check Company Information: Validate that registered company information on the website matches official sources and publications from the legitimate organization.
Protect Personal Information: Never provide passwords, OTP codes, bank account details, or identification documents to unverified individuals.
Be Skeptical of High Returns: Ignore unsolicited investment solicitations online or promises of guaranteed high profits.
Verify Through Official Channels: If anything seems suspicious, verify information through the company's official website and authorized communication channels.

Reporting and Support

If you discover fake websites, applications, or accounts:

Save the suspicious link, conversation transcripts, and recipient account information
Report the fraud to the impersonated company (securities firm, fund management company, etc.)
File a report with Hanoi Police
Contact relevant government agencies for assistance