On 19/8, the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City issued a warning to Vietnamese travelers about fraudulent emails from scammers impersonating the US government. The scammers are attempting to profit by requesting visa deposits.

The US has piloted a Visa Bond Pilot Program requiring citizens of certain countries to pay a security deposit (5,000-15,000 USD) upon entering the US on a B visa. The B1 and B2 visas are short-term, non-immigrant visas issued to applicants for tourism or business purposes.

The US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City released a copy of a fraudulent email asking for a visa deposit. Image: U.S. Consulate General - Ho Chi Minh City

The US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City released a copy of a fraudulent email asking for a visa deposit. Image: U.S. Consulate General - Ho Chi Minh City

However, the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed that "Vietnam is not currently on the list of countries in the pilot program" for visa deposits. Therefore, any email claiming to be from the US government and requesting a security deposit for a visa application is fraudulent.

The consulate also shared an image of a fraudulent email received by a Vietnamese visa applicant as a warning to other travelers. They emphasized that official emails from the US government will have an address ending in "state.gov". If travelers are unsure about the legitimacy of an email, they can submit a question through a form at bit.ly/nivvn.

Emails asking Vietnamese citizens to pay a security deposit for a US visa are likely fraudulent. Currently, the US only applies this policy to Malawi and Zambia. From 20/8, the government will update the list of countries if any are added.

Pham Anh Vu, deputy general director of Viet Travel, said that in addition to fake emails, travelers should also be wary of information on fake websites and Facebook pages. These scams often surface during peak tourist seasons. Vu considers these scams "very dangerous" because of the rapid spread of information on social media.

Travelers need to be alert and cautious when receiving unexpected or suspicious offers, especially deposit requests from unfamiliar entities. They should carefully verify the source of information and choose reputable travel companies for bookings, avoiding suspiciously cheap deals.

Phuong Anh