The development of Vietnam’s telecommunications and information technology sectors has contributed positively to economic growth, governance, national defense, and the improvement of living standards, culture, and economy for the public.
However, alongside this growth are challenges, including a rise in cybercrime with increasingly sophisticated tactics used to defraud citizens.
When government agencies contact citizens, the agency’s name will now be displayed on mobile phones. Photo: NM
Although law enforcement has been actively cracking down on cyber fraud cases and deploying measures to maintain online safety in Vietnam, many businesses, organizations, and individuals remain vulnerable due to a lack of caution and awareness, making it easier for criminals to conduct scams.
Recently, criminals have increasingly impersonated government or judicial agencies to trick citizens into following fraudulent instructions, leading to the theft of telecommunications users' assets.
In response to questions from National Assembly deputies and voters during the 6th session of the 15th National Assembly on May 23, 2024, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized a solution: "Online scammers often impersonate government agencies.
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has directed telecom providers to invest in technology that allows calls from government agencies to display the agency’s name on mobile or screen-equipped landlines.
If citizens receive a call on a non-screen device, they can request a callback on a mobile number to verify it is from a government agency.”
Following Minister Hung’s directive, the Department of Telecommunications has collaborated with telecommunications providers to implement Voice Brandname caller ID for mobile numbers used by government agencies, including ministries, agencies, and other governmental offices.
Based on registered requests from relevant agencies, there are currently 732 mobile numbers used by government bodies to directly contact organizations, businesses, and the public for official purposes.
Thus, subscribers of Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone, GtelMobile, and virtual mobile networks such as Itel, Mobicast, Local, VNSky, and FPT will see an identified caller name instead of a phone number for these 732 government numbers.
Calls that appear with a 10-digit number beginning with 03, 05, 07, 08, or 09 and claim to represent a government agency should be considered fraudulent, and citizens are advised to remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to scams.
The Ministry of Information and Communications continues to implement caller ID identification for landline numbers registered by government agencies. Since identifying landline calls requires updating from older (PTSN) to newer (IP) technologies and upgrading equipment and transmission infrastructure, implementation will vary based on the capabilities of systems and individual agency requirements.
This process requires telecommunications companies to consult with each government agency, design solutions, and complete necessary legal procedures.
The MIC also notes that current landline phones with screen displays and mobile phones on the Vietnamobile network are unable to identify calls in this manner.
