High-tech Crime in Vietnam

The Vietnam Public Security have arrested a number of foreigners using of fake ATM cards to withdraw money in Vietnam in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Through the Vietnam Foreign Affairs Department, the Public Security will inform the respective foreign Consulate in Vietnam and the family of the foreigners commited crime to invite lawyers in Vietnam to cooperate during the investigation, prosecution and trial process in Vietnam.

It has been reported recently that some criminal organizations abroad have selected Vietnam as a place to perform illegal acts.  The act of using internet network and high- tech system to steal money in credit cards, in ATM machines to spend in Vietnam or convert them into foreign currency to bring abroad are getting more common.  Unauthorized intrusion into the database of key economic sectors such as postal , telecommunications, banking, and websites to steal information, domain name, credit card to make online purchase or usage of fake ATM cards to withdraw cash from ATM machines in Vietnam are violation of Vietnam Criminal Code.

Currently, under the provisions of the Vietnam Criminal Code, Article 224, 225 and 226 are governing the violations in the field of high-tech crime. Article 224 governs the acts to create and spread virus information; Article 225 governs the breach of operation, and usage of electronic computers; and Article 226 governs the unauthorized usage of information online and in computers. As the high-tech crime has no borders and gets more sophisticated, the Vietnam law experts are calling for a stricter sanctions to deter and prevent it from spreading.

However the Vietnam law experts have also admitted that the current Vietnam Penal Code also have limitations due to the high-tech’s complexity in nature resulting in difficulties for Vietnam Procedure Conducting Agencies at Public Security’s Investigation Agency, Public Prosecutor, and High Court of Vietnam.

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