Online Scams Surge Before New School Year: Police Warn of Tactics Targeting Students and Parents

Overview of Fraud Methods

Vietnamanese authorities report that as the 2026-2027 school year approaches, online fraudsters are intensifying their activities with increasingly sophisticated tactics. They exploit students' need for educational opportunities, scholarships, part-time work, and parental anxiety about enrollment and safety.

Confirmed Fraud Schemes

1. School Fee Fraud

Scammers impersonate school staff or teachers by creating fake social media profiles that duplicate teachers' names and photos. They infiltrate parent groups and class chats, establish initial trust, then post detailed fee schedules (tuition, uniforms, class contributions, materials, insurance) with artificial urgency: "Complete payment today" or "limited-time discount available." Victims unknowingly transfer money to personal bank accounts using names similar to legitimate schools.

2. Student ID Code Fraud

Fraudsters posing as municipal police inform students that their identification codes are incorrect in the national registration system, preventing school transfer approvals. They create panic by claiming immediate action is needed, then request national ID data, identification codes, or trick victims into installing fake government service apps to gain account access and steal personal information.

3. Virtual Kidnapping Fraud

This is the most dangerous scheme. Fraudsters create fake university websites, scholarship program pages, or social media accounts and collect personal data, ID copies, family phone numbers, and study schedules. They then direct victims to isolated locations, instruct them to disable phones and disconnect from family under pretense of interviews or background checks. Once isolated, scammers contact family members by impersonating the student, falsely claiming kidnapping, and demanding ransom payment within hours.

A variant involves fraudsters impersonating police or prosecutors, falsely accusing students of drug involvement or money laundering, forcing secrecy, demanding they rent rooms, and threatening families through fake kidnapping stories.

Warning Signs and Prevention

Protection Against School Fee Fraud

• Verify directly: Always call the school independently to confirm any payment requests—never rely solely on chat or social media messages
• Check official accounts: Verify tuition payment details through the school's official website or printed receipts only
• Beware of pressure: Urgent language like "pay today" or "limited-time discount" is a major red flag
• Authenticate senders: Ask group administrators to verify that the profile is legitimate before responding

Protection Against Student ID Code Fraud

• Use official channels: Never provide ID numbers, passport numbers, or sensitive documents through links or unverified messages
• Avoid suspicious apps: Never install applications from unknown links
• Verify claims: Contact your school directly if you receive notifications about identification errors

Protection Against Virtual Kidnapping Fraud

• Verify websites carefully: Type university URLs directly into your browser; do not rely on search engine results
• Protect personal documents: Never send ID copies or family contact details except through verified official channels
• Report relocation requests: Immediately inform parents if interviews or training require travel to unfamiliar locations
• Suspicious disconnection demands: If anyone asks you to disable your phone during an "official process," this is almost certainly fraud
• Maintain family contact: Keep regular communication with parents throughout scholarship applications and enrollment processes

Reporting Fraud

• File a report directly with your local police station
• Contact your school administration with details of the fraud attempt
• Report to official government hotlines listed on authorized websites

Students in remote areas and ethnic minority regions are particularly vulnerable due to limited information access. Community awareness and shared warnings within schools are essential for protection.