2026 witnesses an explosion of scam forms using AI and high technology. Scammers not only target greed but also manipulate the psychology of fear. Here are 11 "red" flags you need to etch in your mind.
1. Offers "Too Good to Be True"
Any investment opportunity promising 20-30% interest/month, or "easy job high pay" (liking posts from home earning $20/day) are scams. In the financial world, high returns always come with high risks.
2. Urgent Action Required
Scammers always try to create time pressure so you don't have time to think. For example: "Your account will be locked in 1 hour", "Relative in emergency needs surgery money immediately", "Police require immediate transfer for investigation".
3. Request Transfer to Personal Account
When dealing with an organization (Travel Agency, E-commerce Platform, Government Agency), they NEVER ask for transfer to a personal bank account. If buying airline tickets but transferring to "Nguyen Van A", stop immediately.
4. Impersonating Authorities on Phone
Police, Prosecutors, Courts work directly with invitation/summons papers, absolutely do not work over the phone, Zalo and do not ask for money transfer to "prove innocence".
5. Stiff Face Video Call (Deepfake)
If a relative calls via video to borrow money but the call is short (under 10s), the face has little expression, the voice is cracked or intermittent, suspect it is Deepfake AI. Call back using a regular phone number to verify.
6. Strange or Misspelled Links
Check the domain name (URL) carefully. Fake websites often use strange extensions (.vip, .top, .cc) or add/remove characters (e.g., vietcombankk.com instead of vietcombank.com.vn).
7. Request to Install Strange Apps (.APK File)
Absolutely do not download and install files with the .apk extension sent via Zalo, Telegram. This is malware that takes control of the phone, helping hackers read OTPs and steal all money.
8. Unexpected Winning Notification
You receive a notification of winning an SH motorbike, iPhone even though you didn't participate in any program? Scammers will ask you to pay "shipping fees" or "taxes" before receiving the prize. This is a trap.
9. Request Both OTP/PIN
No official service asks you to provide an OTP code or ATM card PIN. Any website asking to enter all this information on the same interface is definitely Phishing.
10. "Online Lover" Never Met Inviting Investment
"Pig Butchering" Scheme: Scammers spend months confiding, building affection, then luring you to invest in fake crypto exchanges and disappearing.
11. Brandname Messages Containing Strange Links
Scammers use fake base stations (Fake BTS) to insert scam messages into real bank message threads. If a message from a bank contains a link requesting login, 99% it is a scam.
Advice from VTrust
When encountering any of the signs above, follow the "Slow - Check - Report" principle. Slow down, Cross-check information, and Report immediately to VTrust or authorities.