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HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội Police on Wednesday warned of increasing phone scams in which scammers pretend to be policemen or post office staff to steal money.

According to the agencies, suspects were reported to call people, claiming to be post office staff asking victims to pay bills, bankers requesting victims to clear debts or policemen announcing investigations into drug trafficking and cross-border money laundering involving victims in order to have them declare their property and balance in bank accounts.

Suspects urged victims to talk to a purported investigator or officer from the Ministry of Public Security, People’s Procuracy or People’s Court and asked them to not tell anyone that they were working with law enforcement forces.

To make it more believable, they even used software to fake incoming numbers with ones of Hà Nội Police or other State agencies.

These callers then asked victims to transfer money into different bank accounts, making an accuse of verifying the source of money for investigation. The cash would then be stolen.

Hà Nội Police urged people to be on high alert for these tactics and to “not fall into the traps of scammers.”

To work with people, Hà Nội Police always sends direct invitations and orders and never askes citizens to transfer money to bank accounts.

In case of receiving such calls, people need to report them immediately to the city police. — VNS