Scam Radar: Online Marketplace and Job Scams Targeting Expats in Ho Chi Minh City

Citywide | Facebook Marketplace Purchase Scams | Severity: High

Incident: Sellers advertise high-value items (laptops, cameras, furniture) at attractive prices, collect payment via bank transfer, then block buyers or send fake/damaged goods. How the leverage works:

• Stolen photos: Using images from legitimate listings elsewhere
• Urgency tactics: “Someone else is interested, decide now!”
• Trust building: Initial small transactions to establish credibility Signals that predict this outcome:
• Seller refuses to meet in person or use cash-on-delivery
• Communication only through Facebook Messenger
• Price significantly below market value without explanation
• Pressure to use non-refundable payment methods (bank transfer, e-wallet) Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/defghi/fb_marketplace_scam/

District 2 & Thu Duc | Fake Job Offers with Training Fees | Severity: Critical

Incident: Fraudulent companies offer “international” positions requiring upfront payment for “visa processing,” “training materials,” or “certification fees.” How the leverage works:

• Professional facade: Fake websites, LinkedIn pages, and email domains
• Interview theater: Conducting fake interviews to build legitimacy
• Gradual escalation: Small initial fees leading to larger requests Signals that predict this outcome:
• Job offer received without formal application process
• Requests for payment before starting work
• Vague job descriptions with high salary promises
• Poor English in communications despite claiming international company Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/jklmno/fake_job_offer_hcmc/

Citywide | Rental Deposit Scams via Fake Websites | Severity: High

Incident: Cloned websites of legitimate rental agencies collect deposits for properties that don’t exist or aren’t available for rent. How the leverage works:

• URL hijacking: Domains nearly identical to real agencies (e.g., .net instead of .com.vn)
• Design cloning: Exact copies of legitimate websites
• Fake documentation: Providing counterfeit contracts and receipts Signals that predict this outcome:
• Slight differences in website address from known legitimate sites
• Missing security certificates or browser warnings
• Requests for payment to personal accounts rather than company
• No physical office verifiable through Google Maps or phone calls Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/pqrstu/rental_website_scam/

Thao Dien & District 7 | “Overpayment” Scams on Marketplace | Severity: Medium

Incident: Buyers “accidentally” overpay for items and request refund of excess amount, then reverse the original payment leaving seller out of pocket. How the leverage works:

• Trust exploitation: Appearing to make an honest mistake
• Urgency creation: Needing quick refund for “emergency”
• Payment reversal: Using reversible payment methods initially Signals that predict this outcome:
• Buyer insists on using specific payment methods (often international)
• Claims of accidental overpayment requiring immediate refund
• Pressure to refund before verifying initial payment cleared
• Communication rushing the transaction process Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/vwxyz1/overpayment_scam/