The Vietnamese police have recently alerted citizens to a growing scam involving SMS messages that impersonate official notifications of traffic violations. These messages often include links that lead to phishing sites designed to steal personal and banking information.

According to the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department, scammers are sending mass text messages claiming that the recipient's vehicle has violated traffic laws. The messages prompt users to click on a link to check details and pay fines. To lend credibility to their schemes, fraudsters use misleading domain names that contain terms like "csgt" and "bocongan," which can easily confuse recipients into thinking they are legitimate communications from official authorities.

The primary goal of these messages is to trick users into clicking the links, which may lead to the theft of banking login credentials, passwords, and OTP codes. In some cases, malware may be installed on the victim's device, leading to further financial loss.

The police strongly advise the public not to click on any links from unknown or suspicious phone numbers and to refrain from sharing personal information, bank account details, or OTP codes with anyone. For those needing to verify traffic violation information, it is recommended to use the VNeTraffic app or other official channels provided by the authorities.

Additionally, citizens are encouraged to block suspicious phone numbers, report spam messages on their devices, and remain vigilant against any unfamiliar messages containing links to avoid falling victim to these cyber scams.