On 20/7, the Hanoi Public Administration Service Center issued a warning about impersonation targeting the city's Public Administration Service Center during a peak period of supporting pension and social insurance benefit recipients.

According to the center, a 71-year-old man residing in Dai Mo ward received a call from an individual claiming to be an official from the Hanoi Public Administration Service Center. The caller informed him that he needed to coordinate with the Dai Mo Ward People's Committee to complete social insurance information and requested him to visit the ward office to finalize procedures.

Before his scheduled visit, the individual asked him to download an application to obtain a queue number and to provide a one-time password (OTP) sent to his phone, citing "profile verification" as the reason. Recognizing the unusual request, the man did not comply and proactively called the hotline of the Hanoi Public Administration Service Center to verify the information.

"The center does not ask residents to download applications to obtain queue numbers outside official channels; it does not request one-time passwords, bank account information, or money transfers in any form", emphasized a representative from the Hanoi Public Administration Service Center.

Officials from Public Administration Service Center Branch one assist an elderly person with administrative procedures at home. Photo: HCC

Upon verification, the center determined that the man was not on the list of pension and social insurance benefit recipients required to submit additional authorization documents during the inter-agency peak period, which is being implemented under Plan No. 271 of the Hanoi People's Committee. The aforementioned call was an act of impersonation aimed at stealing personal information and could lead to asset appropriation if residents followed the instructions.

The center states that during the implementation of this peak period, support is only provided to cases identified on the social insurance agency's review list. Officials performing these duties always coordinate with commune and ward People's Committees and relevant agencies, following a unified procedure.

Lists of residents needing support are reviewed and verified through a unified procedure before guidance or on-site assistance is provided to elderly, vulnerable, disabled, or immobile individuals.

The Hanoi Public Administration Service Center urges residents who receive calls from individuals claiming to be state agency officials requesting document additions, application installations, or personal information to calmly verify the information. If they detect signs of impersonation or suspect fraudulent activity, residents should immediately contact Hotline 0241022, press 7, or inform the nearest police agency for timely guidance.

Earlier, on 10/7, Hanoi issued a plan to organize an inter-agency peak period to ensure uninterrupted payment of pensions and social insurance benefits for recipients in the area. By 19/7, the entire city had completed nearly 90,000 profiles, achieving 96.8% of the total required profiles. Only 2,960 profiles are still being supported for completion by the Public Administration Task Forces.

Vo Hai