(TAP) - Recently, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has warned about a new form of fraud, called "online kidnapping". Unlike traditional kidnapping, this tactic does not require direct contact but still controls the victim mentality, turns them into "virtual hostages" and forces the family to transfer ransom money.
Illustrative image. Source: Diy13 from Getty Images (Canva)
Notably, the main targets of the criminal group are young students, who lack life experience and are vulnerable to exploitation. The scheme often begins with a call from a scammer posing as a police officer, falsely accusing the victim of involvement in serious crimes such as drug, money laundering, etc. They skillfully apply psychological pressure, threatening arrest or prosecution if the victim does not “cooperate.” Then, they force the victim to isolate themselves by renting a hotel room and cutting off all contact with family members to conceal their actions. Finally, they demand money transfers under the pretext of “resolving the case” or “checking the account.” To increase credibility, they often use bank accounts registered in the names of the victim’s relatives, making it even easier for the victim to fall into the trap.
Information about the "online kidnapping" cases is being uploaded on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Public Security and the Facebook page of Government Information
A typical case was just posted on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Public Security on July 28, 2025 in Thach Ha commune, Ha Tinh province, showing the danger of this trick. Accordingly, D.M.N (born in 2007) - son of D.V.T (born in 1973, residing in Dak Nong), was returning to his hometown to visit his family in Ha Tinh province when he suddenly received a call from a group of people pretending to be the police. They falsely accused N of being involved in a money laundering ring and asked him to keep it a secret, rent a hotel room to "cooperate in the investigation"; and provide information about relatives. Out of fear, N followed all the instructions without knowing that he was falling into a scam trap. Meanwhile, the family received news that their son had been kidnapped and asked to immediately transfer 250 million VND to ransom him. Thanks to the timely intervention of Thach Ha Commune Police, N was found safe at a hotel in Thanh Sen Ward, without any physical restraint as threatened.
Or another incident reported by the Vietnamese Government Facebook page on June 11, 2025. Specifically, at 2:20 a.m. on May 11, 2025, the Special Task Force - Team 2, Criminal Police Department (PC02) of Ho Chi Minh City Police received an urgent report from Mr. MDC Quoc (born in 1976) about his son MDC Thien (born in 2007) suspected of being kidnapped. The scammers repeatedly called to threaten and demanded an immediate transfer of 200 million VND to a Vietcombank account number 1029XXXXX under the name Thiên. Afterwards, the scammers forced Thiên to transfer money through another account. Although the family had already sent the money, they continued to demand more and cut off contact. Thanks to the quick response of the authorities, Thiên was rescued at an undisclosed hotel. Through investigation, Thien was not actually kidnapped but was the victim of an "online kidnapping" scam. The subjects impersonated police officers, falsely accusing Thiên of involvement in drug-related crimes, forcing Thiên to self-isolate and comply with all their orders. Exploiting fear, they extorted a large sum of money from the family.
Notably, these cases are just two among many victims who have fallen into the trap of "online kidnapping" scams. According to Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper, citing information from the PC02 Division (Department for the Prevention and Investigation of Property Crimes under the Ministry of Public Security), from March 2025 to now, the unit has received 18 cases with similar schemes. The total amount of money extorted has reached approximately 3.5 billion VND, showing the seriousness of this type of crime.
Recommendations from the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. Source: Facebook Government Information
In light of the continuous occurrence of such incidents, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has especially reminded people to be extremely vigilant, especially parents with minor children. Closely monitoring children's online activities and promptly detecting any unusual behavior is crucial to preventing sophisticated online scams. To avoid falling victim to "online kidnapping" or any other form of fraud, individuals must:
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Stay alert to all unknown calls: The police never work over the phone, request for money transfers or install software. All official notifications are sent via invitation letters/summons with an official red stamp.
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Share warning information: Proactively inform your family and friends about the latest tactics used by high-tech criminals.
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Quick action when spotting signs of fraud: Immediately report any suspicions to the local police or the 113 hotline.
Jame Le