AI used to create phishing websites and apps with malware in Vietnam
Cybercriminals in Vietnam are reportedly using AI to rapidly create fake websites and applications impersonating banks and other brands in minutes, embedding malware to steal user data and account credentials. The National Cybersecurity Center detected nearly 500 fraudulent brand impersonation websites in six months, with 400-500 reports of online scams received weekly.
What happened
Cybercriminals in Vietnam are using AI technology and no-code development platforms to create fake websites and applications impersonating legitimate brands, banks, and e-commerce platforms. According to security expert Vũ Ngọc Sơn, Director of Technology at the National Cybersecurity Technology Company (NCS), criminals can create a counterfeit website or app in just minutes.
The fake applications and websites include malware designed to steal user information, compromise accounts, and steal devices. Attackers create interfaces that are nearly identical to legitimate banking sites and e-commerce platforms, with domain names that differ only slightly—using hyphens, dots, or subdomains to deceive users. No-code and AI-assisted development platforms can reduce development time by up to 90% compared to traditional coding methods.
Reported impact
The National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) detected nearly 500 fraudulent website addresses impersonating brands for fraud purposes over a six-month period. The NCSC's technical systems receive 400–500 reports weekly from Vietnamese internet users about online scams, including cases of phishing websites impersonating banks and e-commerce sites.
Index analysis
The rapid proliferation of counterfeit applications and fake websites exploiting AI technology has become a widespread problem in Vietnam's cyberspace and internationally. The ease of deployment—taking only minutes to create fraudulent sites—and the difficulty in distinguishing them from legitimate platforms creates significant risk for consumers.
Governance controls
Vietnam's Cybersecurity Information Safety Department (Cục An toàn thông tin) under the Ministry of Information and Communications has issued alerts warning the public to be vigilant against online fraud schemes including game fraud, employment fraud, and impersonation scams. The National Cybersecurity Center monitors and detects counterfeit websites and tracks user reports of fraud incidents.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.