Elderly people were scammed out of tens of billions because they listened to fake police calls.

Recently, some elderly people received phone calls from people pretending to be police officers threatening them with involvement in drug rings, money laundering, bank debts... They were scared and followed the scammers' instructions, leading to the loss of tens of billions of dong.

Tay Ho District Police (Hanoi) has just announced that they are investigating and accepting a complaint from Ms. T. (77 years old, in Tay Ho District) about property appropriation.

Specifically, Ms. T. received a phone call from a person claiming to be a police officer of Hoan Kiem District (Hanoi) saying that she owed the bank 63 billion VND. Out of fear, Ms. T. transferred money 6 times with a total amount of nearly 18 billion VND to the subject.

Ha Dong District Police (Hanoi) are also investigating a case of impersonating a police officer and defrauding Ms. P. (born in 1956, in Ha Dong District) of 15 billion VND.

According to Ms. P., on April 5, she received a phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer. The subject said that her citizen identification card was related to a drug trafficking and money laundering ring, and if Ms. P. could not prove that she was not involved, she would be arrested in a few days.

Too scared, Ms. P. transferred money to the subject's account for verification. She transferred 32 times with a total amount of 15 billion VND.

About a year ago, Mr. L. (71 years old, a tycoon in Ho Chi Minh City) also received consecutive calls with pictures from people claiming to be officers and major generals of the Ministry of Public Security. When following the instructions of these impersonators, Mr. L. lost nearly 15 billion VND.

Furthermore, in March 2022, a professor (83 years old, in Hanoi) lost 750 million VND after a series of days of being psychologically "controlled" by a person impersonating a police officer over the phone.

From the above incidents, the question arises: What makes professors, tycoons, experienced people... still "fall into the trap" of fraud through phone calls?

Never follow online money transfer requests.

Talking about the above issue, lawyer and criminal psychology expert Ngo Huynh Phuong Thao (TAT Law Firm) said: “Professors, tycoons, old people... they only know the majors they are interested in, they do not understand all the problems of life.

Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why they become victims of scammers. In particular, the elderly are often indifferent to the risks to their security and safety until they become victims of crime.

To protect themselves, criminologists say, people need to regularly update current events, security and order, and understand the methods and tricks of fraudsters, only then can they identify and know how to prevent them.

Attorney Thao also emphasized that anyone can become a victim of fraud. Therefore, only those who understand what is happening in society and read the recommendations and warnings from the authorities can protect their wallets.

Criminologists recommend that authorities never work via phone or social networks.

When working, verifying, and investigating with individuals, they send officers to work directly or send written notices and summonses to local authorities, family members, and people the police want to work with.

People, especially the elderly, need to be vigilant when receiving phone calls from strangers. They may claim to be officials of state agencies and judicial agencies, conducting criminal proceedings, to notify and request investigation of the case over the phone.

In addition, scammers can impersonate bank, post office, insurance, inspector, customs... employees to request money, valuable postal gifts or pay fees, repay unspecified debts.

When receiving phone calls with the above signs, people need to stay calm, not panic, quickly contact relatives and friends for advice. In case of suspicion of fraudulent property appropriation, promptly notify the nearest police station.