The figures were disclosed on August 21 at a conference organised by the Ministry of Public Security and the National Cybersecurity Association to provide guidance on the Cybersecurity Law and the Law on Personal Data Protection.
Speaking at the event, Lieutenant Colonel Le Anh Tuan of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention said cyberspace had become a new operating environment for fraudsters.
Although online fraud in Vietnam showed signs of declining during the first six months of the year, authorities uncovered several groups of foreign nationals who had entered the country and rented luxury apartments to carry out scams targeting people overseas. More than 219 foreign nationals linked to such activities have been arrested.
Authorities said online fraud has evolved into a highly organised and dangerous transnational crime, often linked to other offences including human trafficking, illegal immigration and the collection and sale of personal data.
Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to create highly convincing fake images, videos and voices. Officials warned that deepfake content and voice cloning are likely to become the primary tools used in many fraud schemes, particularly those involving impersonation of family members or company executives to demand urgent money transfers.
Data from the National Cybersecurity Association's nTrust anti-fraud system showed that nearly 63,000 new malware variants were detected on mobile phones in Vietnam in 2025.
Among them were hundreds of applications disguised as popular software programmes and designed to steal personal information or take control of users' devices.
Cybercriminals are also increasingly targeting small and medium-sized businesses through ransomware attacks that encrypt data and demand payment for its release. Other common tactics include fake notifications purporting to come from banks, tax authorities and electricity providers in an attempt to obtain payment details or hijack accounts.
In the banking sector, fraud risk warning systems issued alerts to approximately 3.5 million customers. More than 1.1 million customers subsequently suspended or cancelled transactions, preventing transfers worth more than VND 3.99 trillion (USD 152 million).
The Ministry of Public Security said it is continuing to work with the State Bank of Vietnam and other agencies to develop mechanisms for blocking, tracing and handling financial flows linked to online fraud.
Telecommunications companies have also been instructed to intensify efforts against unregistered SIM cards and anonymous mobile subscriptions, label suspicious calls and block fraudulent brand-impersonation text messages.