The information was shared by Le Thi Ha, Head of E-commerce Operations Management Department, Agency of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), at the forum "E-commerce fraud in cyberspace - Challenges and prevention solutions," organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on the afternoon of 22/1.

The number of shops removed, counted until 2/12, were found selling counterfeit or prohibited goods, items of unclear origin, or violating consumer protection regulations. "The nature of these products existing in both traditional and online business environments acts as an extended arm, helping them be consumed faster and more widely," Ha stated.

Le Thi Ha spoke at the forum on the afternoon of 22/1. Photo: Doanh Nghiep Forum

According to the Agency of E-commerce and Digital Economy, the online retail market size last year was estimated at 31 billion USD, a 25.5% increase compared to 2024. Data from the Metric platform indicates that the four largest multi-sector platforms—Shopee, TikTok Shop, Lazada, and Tiki—host approximately 601,800 shops, a decrease of nearly 7.5% from 2024.

Vo Tan Thanh, Vice Chairman of VCCI, noted that by 2025, e-commerce is no longer a supplementary channel but has become an important component of the economic structure, expanding development space and enhancing competitiveness.

However, Thanh expressed concern that counterfeit goods, especially those directly affecting health such as functional foods, cosmetics, and medicines, are becoming increasingly sophisticated. "This is not just an economic issue; it is a social issue that directly impacts market trust and the sustainable development of e-commerce," he said.

The National Steering Committee 389 assessed that smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods continue to be complex, larger in scale, wider in scope, and more sophisticated, particularly in e-commerce and cyberspace.

Several businesses participating in the forum also reported damages. Nguyen Phuong Son, External Relations Director for Amway Vietnam, stated that last year, the company collaborated with a major e-commerce platform to remove 822 violating sales links.

Nguyen Thuan Dat, Executive Director of DAFC and representative of Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG), which distributes over 138 international luxury and high-end brands, reported that fake goods, intellectual property infringing goods, and items of unclear origin are rampant across e-commerce platforms, social media, and KOL livestreams.

"Practical estimates from legitimate businesses in the industry suggest that fraudulent, fake, and uncontrolled 'hand-carried' goods can cause double-digit declines in revenue, especially in high-value product categories," Dat said.

In December 2025, the National Assembly passed the E-commerce Law, effective 1/7 this year. Le Thi Ha stated that the law's requirement for shop identification via VNeID will increase transparency, eliminating anonymous sellers who previously could arbitrarily change, close, and create new shops. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing two decrees to guide the implementation of the E-commerce Law and impose administrative penalties in this sector.

Vien Thong