Vietnam Social Security issued a warning on 12/10 about impersonation scams targeting the public. Specifically, criminals often call, claiming to be local social security officers. They inform individuals that they are on a list to receive a health insurance card for the An Toan Khu area or are eligible for a health insurance refund in 2026. The urgent reasons given by these criminals include "electronic identity profile errors," "unactivated An Toan Khu subject code on the VssID system," or "refund account information mismatch." They demand immediate action to prevent the loss of benefits.

Impersonators request social media connections, guiding individuals through "online, remote" procedures to avoid travel. Once a victim agrees to connect, the criminals send a link to a website mimicking the Public Service Portal interface or an .apk installation file. They then pressure people to download, install, and grant accessibility permissions on their phones. Immediately after accessibility permissions are enabled, malware running in the background takes full control of the entire device.

This malware can covertly monitor screen activity, record digital banking login passwords, and automatically read and disable one-time password (OTP) verification messages. Even with the phone in hand, scammers can execute commands to transfer all funds from a victim's account to virtual bank accounts, thereby stealing their assets.

Can bo BHXH ho tro nguoi dan Ha Noi lam thu tuc lien quan huu tri. Anh: Thu Huong

Vietnam Social Security advises the public not to comply with calls or messages claiming to be officers who request data updates or health insurance refunds. Users should not access suspicious links, scan QR codes, or install unfamiliar files sent via messages or social media. Do not send identification information or images to individuals claiming to be social security officers for "verification," "data synchronization," or "refunds."

If signs of fraud are detected, individuals should report them to the nearest police station. They should also inform the local Social Security agency for assistance and contact their bank to lock accounts if they suspect compromise or unusual transactions have occurred.

Phong Linh