HANOI: Vietnamese authorities are warning the public of a rising wave of sophisticated online scams known as ‘virtual kidnapping’, targeting students and young people, particularly those living away from home.
Criminals impersonate police or prosecutors, claim the victim is involved in a crime and coerce them into isolation, while simultaneously extorting money from their families.
On July 27, police in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Ward received a report from a man claiming his university-age son had been kidnapped.
The father received a message demanding a ransom of 250 million dong (S$12,250).
Within hours, local police, in coordination with Hanoi’s Criminal Police Department, located the student in a nearby hotel.
The son explained he had been contacted via phone by someone claiming to be an investigator.
The caller accused him of involvement in a money laundering ring and instructed him to install a Zoom-based app for interrogation. Under pressure and fear, he followed instructions and sent a distress message to his parents, believing it was a legal procedure.
A similar case occurred just days earlier in the capital city’s Viet Hung Ward, where a 16-year-old was coerced into faking his own kidnapping and demanding 300 million dong from his family.
He was later found alone in a hotel room after swift intervention by police.
These ‘virtual kidnappings’ typically follow a pattern: scammers collect public information and photos of victims — often students living away from home — and then create fake social media accounts on Facebook or Zalo using their identities.
They contact the victim’s family and friends with urgent messages like “I’ve been kidnapped abroad”, “If I ask for money, I’m being forced”, or “Call the police to rescue me.”
To heighten panic, they use emotional language like “Mom, please help!” or “Are you online, Mom?” to manipulate family members into transferring money without verifying the situation.
Multiple rescues in recent days
Between Aug 2 and 5, police in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Dak Lak successfully resolved at least five such cases.
On Aug 2, an 18-year-old student in Ho Chi Minh City was lured into a hotel room and asked his mother for 600 million dong under the pretext of needing financial proof for a study abroad application.
Authorities tracked and rescued him the same night.
Also on Aug 2, a third-year student disappeared from her dorm in HCM City.
Scammers demanded 600 million dong from her family.
Police found her in a hotel after she had already transferred 129 million dong.
On Aug 5, a high school student from HCM City was lured 350km away to Dak Lak Province, where he was isolated in a motel.
He had transferred nearly 80 million dong after being manipulated via calls and Zoom. Police found and rescued him early the next morning.
Many of the victims admitted they had heard about these scams before, but still fell for them due to pressure, fear and isolation.
Online awareness
Journalist Hoang Anh Tu, former head of the editorial board of the Sinh Vien-Hoa Học Tro newspaper, said this reveals alarming gaps in family relationships today. Social media, with its strong appeal and influence, has increasingly become a more accessible companion for many teenagers.
“Young people are often more willing to confide in strangers online, where they feel heard and free from judgment. Meanwhile, within their own families, parents, due to busy schedules, life pressures or a lack of understanding of teenage psychology, may unintentionally create invisible barriers,” he said.
He suggested that schools integrate digital skills education into the official curriculum.
“It’s not enough to just teach math, physics, chemistry, and then tell students ‘Figure out social media on your own’,” he said.
“There should be practical lessons, like ‘How can you tell if a stranger is trying to scam you?’, ‘What kind of messages might indicate bullying or grooming?’, or ‘What should you do if you’re being threatened online?’”
Building trust, sharing and being a solid emotional support for children is the most effective shield against cybercrime, he noted.
According to Tu, families need to shift from “preaching” to “truly walking alongside” their children.
Instead of banning phone use, parents could try asking their children how much time they spend on their phone each day, what kind of content they like, or if anything online has made them feel sad lately.
“Parents, don’t rush. Don’t lose your temper at every little thing. Be calm, because there’s still plenty of time to be present with your children. When you are, they’ll feel safe expressing their thoughts and emotions. And sometimes, you may even be surprised and deeply moved by their insight,” he said.
Instead of banning social media, he advised parents to accompany their children by watching what their children are watching, commenting on it and following along — not to monitor them, but to understand them. - Vietnam News/ANN
