🔄 Last updated: 12 July 2026
Before we start, something about ourselves.
ViEntry does not "guarantee visas". Nobody can.
If you've ever heard a service — even a very professional-looking one — promise a 100% guaranteed visa, you've heard a lie. The decision to issue a visa belongs to the immigration authority, and no company on earth can promise on their behalf.
That promise is also exactly how the scam opens.
Dien Bien Provincial Police warn explicitly: be wary of advertising such as "guaranteed visa", "guaranteed success", "fast and simple procedures", or requests to transfer money through an intermediary individual.
And this isn't theoretical. The Immigration Division of Phu Tho Provincial Police has identified individuals and organisations exploiting the demand for visas for foreigners to commit forgery and property fraud.
🎭 ANATOMY OF A SCAM — 5 ACTS
The frightening part isn't that they're sophisticated.
The frightening part is that police in Ninh Binh, Long An, Bac Kan and other provinces all describe VIRTUALLY THE SAME SCRIPT — meaning it's a systematically repeated process.
Here is that script, as the police describe it.
🎬 ACT 1 — The approach
The perpetrators impersonate officers of the Immigration Department, proactively seeking out and contacting people via social networks such as Facebook, Zalo, Instagram, WeChat — then offer to guide and help with the paperwork, requiring only that you send a portrait photo and your ID document.
Gentle. Courteous. Offering to help. No money asked — not yet.
🚩 Warning sign: a "government officer" messaging you first on social media.
🎬 ACT 2 — The forged documents
Once you trust them and follow instructions, they send you photos of a forged passport and visa — your photo and personal details cut, pasted and edited to match — and announce that the procedure is complete.
You see your name. Your photo. Your passport number. On a visa that looks real.
This is the act where you believe.
🚩 Warning sign: you receive a photo of a document, rather than a lookup reference on the official portal.
🎬 ACT 3 — The psychological trap
The perpetrator announces your departure time and asks you to be present at the airport to collect documents and complete formalities.
Why? Because a specific flight date turns you from someone deciding into someone preparing.
You stop asking "is this real?". You start asking "what do I need to pack?".
🚩 Warning sign: an urgent deadline appears before you've had time to verify anything.
🎬 ACT 4 — The strike
This is where the money goes.
The perpetrator sends a FORGED "Verification of Income and Financial Capacity" document from the Immigration Department, claiming the authorities require proof of financial means, and demands a transfer of VND 50,000,000 to the "Immigration Department's account" (a fake account) for verification, promising a refund within 30–40 minutes.
Read that promise again: "a refund within 30–40 minutes".
It's engineered so you think: "It's just a formality. The money comes back in half an hour."
The account number and the details of the "Immigration Department officer" are printed on the forged document itself.
🚩 Warning sign: ANY request to transfer money to "prove financial capacity".
🎬 ACT 5 — The disappearance
Under pressure, the victim transfers the money. The moment the transfer completes, the perpetrator cuts off contact.
Curtain.
🔴 THE GOLDEN RULE — one sentence is enough
The immigration authority will NEVER ask you to transfer money to "prove your finances".
Never. Not via Facebook. Not via Zalo. Not via text. Not by phone.
If anyone asks this — it's a scam. Full stop. No exceptions.
The Immigration Department also advises: passports issued by the immigration authority do not involve any cash-on-delivery fee requested by phone. Never transfer money in advance to a caller claiming to be a courier or call centre. Never provide an OTP code, bank account details, statement images or personal data to strangers.
🚩 7 WARNING SIGNS — see one, stop
| # | Sign | Why it's a red flag |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Guaranteed visa" · "100% success" | Nobody can guarantee it. The decision belongs to the immigration authority |
| 2 | A "government officer" messaging via Facebook/Zalo | State agencies don't work that way |
| 3 | A request to transfer money to "prove finances" | 🔴 The single most certain sign. It is never real |
| 4 | Asking for an OTP / bank statement / account details | No lawful immigration procedure needs these |
| 5 | Sending a photo of a visa rather than a lookup reference | A real visa can be verified on the official portal |
| 6 | Unusually cheap — around half the price of legitimate companies | Unusually cheap is bait, not a bargain |
| 7 | Telling you to install an unfamiliar app | Victims who log into the malicious software find their accounts locked and emptied, with portrait photos and ID documents stolen |
🔔 Don't let fear push you into a scammer's hands
Here's what few people say out loud.
Scammers don't hunt fools. They hunt the PANICKED.
The person whose visa is about to expire. The person with three days left. The person who just realised the stamp says an earlier date than they thought.
That person will believe anyone who promises "I'll sort it for you in 24 hours."
👉 Turn on free visa expiry reminders with Visa Tracker — the best anti-scam measure is never being in a hurry in the first place. Free, no account needed.
→ Your visa expiry date isn't the day you must leave
✅ THE 10-SECOND TEST
Someone is offering you a visa service. Ask three questions:
① "What website is this?"
The official portals — only four addresses, all ending in .gov.vn:
evisa.gov.vn— E-Visa applicationsthithucdientu.gov.vn— electronic visaprearrival.immigration.gov.vn— digital arrival card (QR)dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn— Ministry of Public Security public service portal
Any other domain is NOT an official portal. Even if it looks identical. Even if it carries a logo. Type the address by hand — don't click a link someone sent you.
② "Are you a government agency?"
An honest service provider will say no. And will add that you can do this yourself at the published fee.
We'll say it for you: ViEntry is NOT an immigration authority. You can file your own E-Visa at evisa.gov.vn for USD 25 (single) / USD 50 (multiple). A service fee, if you choose to use one, is a file-support fee — not a fee to "buy a visa".
③ "Are you asking me to transfer money to prove financial capacity?"
If the answer is yes — leave. No negotiation. No follow-up questions.
🆘 If you've already transferred money
Don't be embarrassed. Be fast.
1. Cut off all contact with them immediately. 2. Contact your bank — the sooner you call, the better the chance of stopping the transfer. 3. Report it to the nearest police station. Police advise that where fraud is suspected, you should inform the nearest police authority immediately so the matter can be handled promptly. 4. Change your banking and email passwords. If you installed an unfamiliar app — remove it and have the device checked. 5. Keep all evidence: messages, account numbers, images of the forged documents, transfer records.
⚠️ And beware the second scam. Fraudsters set up websites and pages impersonating state agencies offering "legal services to recover money lost to fraud" — in reality they exploit victims' desire to recover their money in order to defraud them a second time.
No "money recovery service" on Facebook is real.
⚠️ Common misconceptions
❌ "They sent me a visa image with my name and photo — it must be real." → FALSE. Police describe it explicitly: the visa image is cut, pasted and edited to match your details. A photo is not evidence. Only a lookup on the official portal is evidence.
❌ "They said they'd refund it in 30–40 minutes, which sounds reasonable." → THAT IS THE EXACT LINE SCAMMERS USE. Police have recorded this promise verbatim in case files.
❌ "It's only a small amount — a VND 35,000 delivery fee." → BE CAREFUL. This version starts with a tiny fee — then they ask for your OTP and bank details in order to take everything. The small sum isn't the target. The OTP is.
❌ "Their website has the Immigration Department logo, so it's genuine."
→ FALSE. A logo can be copied in five seconds. A domain cannot. Trust only .gov.vn.
❌ "The agency has a business licence, so it must be safe." → NOT SUFFICIENT. A business licence is not a licence to issue visas. No private company can issue a visa. Ask whether they guarantee the outcome — if they do, that's a red flag regardless of any licence.
❌ "I'm a foreigner; these scams only target Vietnamese people." → FALSE. Phu Tho police issued a specific warning about fraud exploiting demand for visas for foreigners.
Sources
- Ninh Binh Provincial Police — Immigration Division: warnings on property fraud connected to immigration procedures; warnings on "online visa" offers via social media
- Long An Provincial Police — warning on new fraud methods, forged immigration documents and impersonation of Immigration Department officers
- Phu Tho Provincial Police — Immigration Division: warning on forgery and fraud in visa services for foreigners
- Ha Tinh Provincial Police — Immigration Division: warning on fraud exploiting the online passport process; advice never to share OTP codes
- Dien Bien Provincial Police — warning on "guaranteed visa" and "guaranteed success" advertising
- Bac Kan City Portal — warning on crime related to immigration activities
- Authority of Information Security, Ministry of Information and Communications — warnings on online fraud; websites and pages impersonating state agencies
- Vietnam Immigration Department — Ministry of Public Security:
evisa.gov.vn
Note: This article compiles public police warnings as of the update date. Fraud methods change constantly — the list of signs above is not exhaustive, and the absence of any sign does not mean something is safe. This is not legal advice. If you suspect fraud, report it to the nearest police station immediately. ViEntry is a technology platform connecting users with independent service operators; ViEntry is NOT an immigration authority, does NOT issue visas, and does NOT guarantee visa outcomes. You are free to complete the procedure yourself on the official portal at the published fee. All prices are for reference.
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