The PM called for completing legal and policy frameworks to build a robust digital banking ecosystem, with a focus on electronic payments, end-to-end online public services, and digital access for all, particularly those in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested localities to set up task forces to crack down on smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, copyright infringement, and intellectual property violations, given the recent bust involving 100 tonnes of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.

This action followed an earlier successful operation by provincial police that resulted in the apprehension of 23 individuals connected to high-tech criminal syndicates operating from Cambodia via cyberspace.

Various websites and donation fanpages, purporting to be the Central Relief Mobilisation Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), have popped up after Typhoon Yagi, preying on people who want to help disaster-hit victims, and diverting donations for natural disaster-hit victims to accounts held by fraudsters, the VFF Central Committee said on September 13.

Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on July 15 posted photos of suspects of online scamming gangs dressed in police uniforms and contacting the victims via video chat.

The Singaporean police announced on June 27 that more than 110 suspicious bank accounts with over 400,000 USD have been blocked by the United Overseas Bank (UOB) or seized by the police in a joint operation targeting money mules.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security’s Investigation Police Agency on April 27 busted a large-scale money laundering and illegal cross-border currency transfer ring.

Trade Counselor in Mexico and Panama Luu Van Khang has advised Vietnamese businesses to carefully study their partners, following a range of trade frauds in Latin America in which firms from the Southeast Asian nation were victimised.

As of 5pm on June 28, the national COVID-19 vaccine fund received over 7.8 trillion VND (338 million USD), its management board said.

The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) is amending regulations related to the operation of agency banking to improve access to the banking system.

Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) has temporarily frozen bank accounts belonging to the recently banned Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and its affiliated groups on suspicion of money laundering.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a national financial inclusion strategy until 2025 with a vision to 2030, targeting at least 80 percent of adults in the country to have bank accounts by 2025.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) must take action to ensure 90 percent of the Vietnamese population over the age of 15 have bank accounts by 2030.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is working to complete the legal corridor and build rational mechanisms to boost cashless payments, which helps prevent corruption, money laundering, and tax invasion.

The Investigation Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security on April 28 commenced legal proceedings against 24 people for organising gambling activities and gambling online through the website Fxx88.com.

A large number of poor people and women in Vietnam have not accessed mobile banking.

Several bank accounts of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the party of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, have been frozen.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a scheme to intensify payments for public services via banks, including tax, electricity, water, hospital and learning fees.

The Ministry of Public Security’s investigation police has issued an international wanted notice for a fugitive bank executive for fraudulence, illegally appropriating over 10 million USD from a customer.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), a major bank of the Philippines, had to shut down online transactions and automatic teller machines (ATMs) on June 7 after money went missing from accounts.