A recent crime report from the Criminal Police Department of Quang Ninh Province has drawn attention to the alarming rise of online job scams, with the case of L.P.D, 30, from Ha Long City serving as a cautionary tale. The victim detailed how she lost over 600 million VND (approximately $26,000) when seeking employment through social media.
On February 14, 2025, L.P.D posted job inquiries on various recruitment fan pages on Facebook. Later the same day, she received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the HR Department of Vietcombank, inviting her for an online interview set for the next morning.
On February 15, the scam continued as the individual instructed her to join a Microsoft Teams group where she would meet potential employers. Within the group, members messaged her about transactions she needed to carry out to secure her position, promising financial incentives for doing so.
Trusting the fake recruiters, L.P.D was directed to access the website “duanvcb.vietcombankhr.com” to register for the job. Over the course of several days, she transferred money to two accounts opened by companies named Ly Thanh Tai and THU NHAN at BIDV and BVBank, respectively, fulfilling what she believed were application requirements.
By February 17, after attempting to withdraw her funds without success, L.P.D grew suspicious. When she asked for clarification via Teams, she was advised to deposit more money to ‘legitimize’ her initial deposits before any withdrawals could occur.
Realizing she had been scammed, L.P.D reported the incident to the police. The Criminal Police Department quickly issued warnings to the public highlighting the need for heightened awareness when responding to unsolicited job offers on social media.
The police urged citizens not to provide personal information, particularly bank account details or one-time passwords (OTPs), to unknown prospects. They recommended using official employment agencies or local job centers for job searches to avoid becoming victims of similar scams.
"Phòng Cảnh sát hình sự khuyến cáo quần chúng nhân dân cần hết sức cảnh giác với những lời mời chào tuyển dụng từ những người không quen biết trên các trang mạng xã hội,” emphasized the police. Their advice is clear: educate yourself and remain vigilant.
Victims of scams like L.P.D should remain calm, refrain from transferring any more funds, and report suspicious activities to local authorities immediately. "Khi phát hiện bị lừa đảo với phương thức, thủ đoạn tương tự, người dân cần bình tĩnh, không tiếp tục làm theo yêu cầu chuyển tiền của các đối tượng và trình báo ngay với cơ quan Công an gần nhất để được hướng dẫn giải quyết theo quy định," serving as a final reminder for individuals to protect themselves against fraudulent schemes.
Online job scams are becoming increasingly common, capitalizing on the trust and desperation of those seeking employment. This case serves as both a warning and an educational opportunity for the public to understand the risks associated with online job searching and the safeguards one can take.