On 23/1, Hanoi Police announced that its Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department had received a report from a man who fell victim to an online gold scam.

The victim reported seeing a verified Facebook account named Bao Tin Minh Chau. Believing it to be a legitimate and reputable gold brand due to its verified badge, he messaged the account to inquire about purchasing two taels of gold.

After receiving a price quote, the man provided his personal information as requested and transferred 300 million dong to the account provided by the scammers. When he noticed unusual activity with the transaction, he realized he had been defrauded by an impersonating group.

This incident is not isolated. Previously, in 9/2025, another man in Hanoi also contacted a verified Facebook account named Bao Tin Minh Chau to buy gold. He transferred nearly 400 million dong and was promised the gold two days later. Upon realizing he had been scammed, that victim also reported the incident.

Investigations revealed that the fraudulent Fanpage was established in 2011 and changed its name to Polo Ar Condicionado in 3/2018. From 18/9/2025, the page was renamed Bao Tin Minh Chau, after which more than two others have also fallen victim to similar scams. In 11/2025, Hanoi Police had previously issued a warning about this tactic.

Fake Facebook page impersonating the Bao Tin Minh Chau brand. *Photo: Hanoi Police*

Following these incidents, Hanoi Police warned of a recent increase in fake Fanpages and accounts impersonating reputable gold and jewelry brands. Their common tactic involves copying nearly all images, branding, names, profile pictures, cover photos, and post content from official Fanpages to deceive buyers.

These fake pages may send links, request users to provide personal information, or finalize orders by asking for bank transfers or deposits. To further attract attention and entice money transfers, they also promote non-existent promotions and gifts.

Police advise people interested in buying gold to thoroughly research a business's sales policies through official channels such as: stores, authorized dealers, websites, and published hotlines. Before transacting on Facebook, users should check the "page transparency" section to review its activity history, including when the page was created, recent name changes, and if it runs advertisements. Crucially, do not rush to transfer money as instructed, even if the Fanpage has a verified badge.

Domestic gold bars saw a sharp increase this morning. 24K gold rings at SJC rose to 169,3-171,8 million dong per tael, 4 million dong higher than yesterday. DOJI Gold and Gems Group quoted plain gold rings at 168,8-171,8 million dong; at Bao Tin Minh Chau, plain gold rings reached 170,3-173,3 million dong per tael.