Strengthening Prevention and Combating Fraud and Property Theft in the New Context

The directive states: In the coming period, fraud and property theft crimes will continue to evolve in complex ways, taking on a transnational nature and exploiting cyberspace, digital transformation, e-commerce, online payments, and loopholes and shortcomings in state management to carry out criminal acts. In particular, fraud and property theft crimes involving high technology, in cyberspace are becoming increasingly sophisticated and professional; they frequently change their operational areas, methods, and tactics, and thoroughly exploit new scientific and technological advancements to evade law enforcement agencies, thereby complicating efforts to prevent, combat, and prosecute such crimes.

Prevent the formation of fraud hotspots within jurisdictions and sectors under management

To enhance the effectiveness of efforts to prevent, combat, and address fraud and property theft in the new context, the Prime Minister instructs ministries, sectors, central agencies, and People’s Committees of provinces and cities to continue thoroughly implementing and strictly adhering to the policies of the Party and the State, as well as the directives of the Government and the Prime Minister regarding the prevention, combating, and handling of fraud activities aimed at property theft; to regard this as a key, ongoing task closely linked to ensuring security, public order, and socio-economic development; and to prevent fraud and property theft from becoming more complex or forming hotspots or clusters of fraudulent activity within their jurisdictions and areas of management.

Strengthen public awareness campaigns and legal education to enhance the public’s awareness and ability to identify and prevent crime; focus on innovating the content and formats of public awareness campaigns, and promptly warn the public about new fraud methods and tactics—particularly online fraud—in a practical manner tailored to specific sectors, localities, and target groups. Accelerate the use of digital technology, digital platforms, social media, and mass media to issue rapid, widespread warnings to the public. Strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the mass movement to safeguard national security; develop and maintain crime prevention and control models tailored to the specific characteristics of each locality and sector, ensuring substantive and effective operations.

Proactively review and address loopholes and shortcomings in state management of sectors prone to risks that criminals exploit to commit fraud and property theft, particularly in telecommunications, banking, payment intermediaries, e-commerce, land management, investment, securities, insurance, healthcare, education, tourism, and employment. Continue to improve management mechanisms, policies, regulations, and procedures to prevent and curb fraud and property theft.

Accurately assess the situation within their jurisdictions and areas of responsibility, proactively prevent such activities, and promptly amend, supplement, or issue new legal provisions—or propose and recommend to competent authorities that they amend or supplement relevant legal regulations pertaining to the prevention, combating, and handling of fraudulent activities aimed at appropriating assets, particularly high-tech fraud, and cross-border fraud, ensuring consistency and uniformity within the legal system.

Strengthen the application of science, technology, and digital transformation in state management, as well as in the prevention, detection, and combating of fraud and property theft; urgently complete, connect, and share specialized databases with the National Population Database to facilitate cross-checking, verification, analysis, and early warning of activities and transactions showing signs of legal violations. Establish mechanisms for coordination, technical connectivity, and the sharing of information and data among state administrative agencies, registration and specialized management agencies, telecommunications service providers, Internet service providers, credit institutions, payment intermediary service providers, and other relevant entities to support criminal investigations and prosecution in accordance with the law.

Strengthen international cooperation with countries, international organizations, and businesses providing cross-border services in the prevention and combating of property fraud, particularly transnational and cyber fraud; enhance the effectiveness of coordination, information exchange, verification, collection of electronic data, money trail tracing, extradition, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and joint investigation and prosecution of crimes with other countries, particularly those sharing a common border.

Enhance the effectiveness of inspection work and interagency coordination to monitor the fulfillment of state management responsibilities and compliance with legal regulations regarding the prevention, combating, and handling of fraud and property theft activities among relevant agencies, organizations, and businesses. Timely identify, rectify, and address loopholes and shortcomings in management; strictly handle violations, dereliction of duty, and lax management in accordance with regulations.

The Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant ministries and agencies to monitor the situation and detect fraudulent activities aimed at property theft early on and from a distance in border areas, and border regions involving Vietnamese citizens in order to promptly advise on and propose appropriate countermeasures, preventive measures, and actions to combat and address such issues; research, develop, and apply advanced and strategic technologies to support the detection, early warning, and prevention of fraud in the digital environment; develop and refine technical standards and specifications, as well as solutions for verifying and identifying information to support the prevention and combating of online fraud...

Prevent the opening and use of payment accounts with inaccurate account holder information

The State Bank of Vietnam will take the lead in researching, reviewing, and proposing amendments and supplements to legal regulations to prevent the use of payment accounts, e-wallets, and mobile money with incorrect account holder information for illegal purposes; deploy an automated monitoring and alert system to directly detect and flag unusual transactions or those showing signs of being linked to fraudulent activities aimed at property theft; strengthen controls and resolutely prevent the opening and use of payment accounts, e-wallets, and mobile money with incorrect account holder information; promptly detect and address loopholes and deficiencies in business processes, risk management, and system security...

The Ministry of Finance will strengthen specialized inspections and oversight in the areas of taxation, customs, securities, insurance, accounting, auditing, public bidding, bond issuance, capital raising, financial investment, business operations, household businesses, and financial services within its jurisdiction; promptly detect and coordinate the handling of acts that exploit financial, investment, and business activities to commit fraud and embezzle assets...

Take action against organizations and individuals posting fake job recruitment information

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall support efforts to promote cooperation with international organizations and businesses providing cross-border digital platforms to enhance the effectiveness of preventing, detecting, and combating online fraud and property theft; directs Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad to strengthen their monitoring efforts, regularly conduct outreach and awareness campaigns, and warn Vietnamese citizens abroad about fraud schemes aimed at financial exploitation, particularly disguised labor recruitment schemes and other forms of enticement designed to lure or coerce them into participating in illegal activities abroad; effectively carry out citizen protection efforts, particularly for those who have been defrauded or coerced into joining criminal organizations abroad.

The Ministry of Home Affairs shall take the lead in reviewing and improving the management mechanisms for sending Vietnamese citizens abroad to work, study, or engage in employment under contract; coordinate efforts to review, identify, and address organizations and individuals who post fraudulent recruitment information, engage in labor brokerage, or provide false labor export consulting services; charge fees in violation of regulations; or exploit such activities to commit fraud and embezzle assets...

Strengthen the management of e-commerce platforms

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will take the lead in reviewing and proposing amendments and additions to legal provisions on e-commerce, online business, multi-level marketing, and consumer protection in order to address loopholes and shortcomings and prevent criminals from exploiting them to commit fraud and steal property; strengthen the management of e-commerce websites, e-commerce marketplaces, e-commerce applications, social media platforms with e-commerce functions, live-streamed sales, affiliate marketing, advertising, and the promotion of goods and services online; direct and guide e-commerce platforms and social media platforms with e-commerce functions to strengthen the verification of information regarding businesses and individual sellers; and ensure the public disclosure and transparency of information regarding sellers, goods, and services...

Develop models for crime prevention and control at the grassroots level

Regarding the People’s Committees of provinces and cities, the Prime Minister requires the heads of local authorities at all levels to assume full responsibility for security and public order, efforts to prevent, combat, and address fraud and property theft within their jurisdictions, and to ensure that no hotspots or gathering places for such criminal activities are established or allowed to persist.

Provincial and municipal People’s Committees shall direct departments, agencies, and sectoral bodies, as well as commune-level People’s Committees, to coordinate with political and social organizations to intensify publicity and education efforts regarding the methods and tactics used in fraud and property theft; leverage the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations in public awareness campaigns and legal education, launch mass movements to safeguard national security, and establish grassroots models for crime prevention and control to prevent, detect, and report fraud and property theft crimes.

At the same time, direct a review to identify and address loopholes and shortcomings in state management of sectors prone to fraud and property theft, particularly banking, telecommunications, e-commerce, financial investment, multi-level marketing, land, real estate, tourism, healthcare, education, employment, and labor export—especially in the online environment within their jurisdiction; enhance the effectiveness of coordination among departments, agencies, and forces, and assign specific tasks to effectively prevent, combat, and address fraudulent activities aimed at property theft.

Direct relevant law enforcement agencies to proactively monitor the situation, detect, and strictly punish individuals and fraud rings involved in property theft; focus on dismantling high-tech fraud rings that operate in an organized manner across provinces and across national borders; improve the efficiency of receiving and resolving reports and tips regarding crimes, as well as investigating and handling cases of fraud and property theft. Strengthen coordination among prosecutorial agencies, government administrative bodies, and businesses in verifying information, suspending transactions, freezing accounts, tracing the flow of funds, collecting electronic data, and recovering stolen assets in accordance with the law.

Strengthen inspections and audits of compliance with legal regulations in sectors prone to fraud and property theft; strictly punish organizations and individuals who violate the law, as well as officials and civil servants who are negligent, lax in management, or who cover up or facilitate such violations...