The report “The State of Scams in Vietnam” by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA)
Hanoi (VNA) - With the help of technology, scammers tricked Vietnamese out of an average 391.8 trillion VND (16.23 billion USD), or 3.6% of the nation’s GDP in 2023, according to the report “The Sta♍te of Scams in Vietnam” by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA).
Drawing insights form an extensive survey involving 1,063 Vietnamese participants, the report provided a comprehensive view of the complex network of scams affecting individuals across the country.An impactful 55% of Vietnamese respondents expressed confidence in their ability to recognize scams, while a modest 14% admit to lacking confidence entirely. Vietnamese citizens found themselves grappling with scams at an alarming frequency, as a staggering 70% reported encountering scams at least once a month.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by the distressing statistic that 49% have experienced an increase in scams in the year, emphasising the pervasive and evolving nature of this issue.
Unsurprisingly, Facebook and Gmail emerged as the primary conduits for scams, with a substantial 71% of respondents encountering scams through these widely-used platforms. Following closely, Telegram (28%), Google (13%), and TikTok (13%) take the 3rd to 5th positions as the most exploited channels.
Investment scams were revealed as the most prevalent, reported by 13% of respondents. Paradoxically, amidst the prevalence of scams, a significant 56% claim none occurred in the last 12 months, reporting an avera🥃ge of 0.8 scams per parti✃cipant.
The impact of scams resonates deeply, particularly with identity theft (21%) and shopping scams (21%), leaving indelible imprints on victims. Heart-wrenching narratives vividly detail not only financial losses but also emotional distress, with some victims grappling with thoughts of suicide. The financial toll exacted by scams is substantial, with 29% of participants reporting monetary losses, averaging 17.7 million VND per victim.
According to GASA Director Joriji Abraham, recovery efforts proved to be an uphill battle, with a mere 1% of particip♒ants succꦇessfully regaining all lost funds and 54% experiencing a strong emotional impact.
He said 22% of the respondents succumbed to attractive offers while others are ensnared by uncertainties or impulsive actions.
Alarmingly, a significant 66% opted not to report the scamꦡs to law enforcement, citing barriers such as uncertainty, complex reporting processes and a perceived la♉ck of importance, he added.
Experts from the GASA said that in order to prevent scams, it is necessary to make vigilant checks of contact phone numbers and seek advice from anti-fraud groups on Facebook.
They said heightened awareness, improved digital literacy and streamlined reporting mechanisms are essential to navigate the challenges presented by an ever-evolving digital era.
The resilience and strength of the Vietnamese people play a pivotal role in adapting strategies to safeguard against scams and contribute to building a safer digital environment for all.
According to⛎ the Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications, during Janua♕ry – November, it received more than 15,900 scam complaints, 91% of which related to banking-finance frauds and forgeries.
