Over the last few days, Van Hien University’s Institute of Communication and Sports successfully ran the workshop “High-Tech Crime - Identification & Prevention for VHUERS”. The event attracted significant attention and active participation from many students. This marked an important step forward in raising awareness and equipping students with skills to protect them from potential risks in cyberspace.
The event attracted a significant number of students from Van Hien University
In the context of the rapidly developing 4.0 technology era, cybercrimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and unpredictable. Students, being young individuals often exposed to technology, are among the most vulnerable in society. The workshop was organized to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to protect students from threats in cyberspace.
The workshop was led by Captain Le Ngoc Khanh, from the Cybersecurity and High-tech Crime Prevention Division of the Ho Chi Minh City Police. With his practical experience and extensive professional knowledge, Captain Khanh provided up-to-date information to help Van Hien students better understand the current state of cybercrime, while equipping them with a solid foundation to prevent various crimes.
Captain Le Ngoc Khanh, from the Cybersecurity and High-tech Crime Prevention Division
Throughout the workshop, Van Hien students had a general and detailed view of the dangers in cyberspace, as well as common forms of online scams, including:
- Asset Theft Scams: These scams are carried out through tricks such as fake messages, emails or notifications about winning prizes, requests for payment to receive prizes, invitations to high-profit investment for unclear projects or unreliable websites etc. To avoid these scams, students should be cautious about winning notifications, ambiguous loans, high-profit investments, and unreliable shopping websites.
- Romance Scams: Scammers often meet their victims on social media or dating apps. They create a perfect image, expressing their affection quickly. The scammers then talk about personal difficulties to evoke sympathy before requesting money. To avoid these scams, students should be cautious of strangers who approach them online, avoid trusting them too quickly and refrain from sharing personal information.
- Impersonation Scams: This is a common form of scam. Such scams use tricks such as fake emails, messages, and/or calls from reputable organizations (e.g. police, law firms or tax offices) to ask for personal information like bank accounts and passwords. Criminals may also create fake websites that resemble official sites or send fake links to trick users. To avoid this, students should carefully check the sender's information, avoid clicking unreliable links, and never share sensitive information online.
- Cyberattacks and Malware Distribution: This advanced form of crime involves cyberattacks and the distribution of malware which can cause serious damage to users (for example, stealing accounts and personal data, infecting devices with viruses). To prevent cyberattacks and protect devices, students must not access unsafe websites, download unverified software, or share passwords. They should frequently update antivirus software and change passwords, while also enabling two-factor identification.
In addition to these common threats, there are many other sophisticated forms of cybercrime that require users to stay vigilant. The information provided in the workshop helped Van Hien students gain a better understanding of the potential risks they might encounter in cyberspace.
Furthermore, the workshop equipped students with powerful "defensive tools" by offering specific and practical skills such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, being cautious with unfamiliar emails and messages, regularly updating software, and verifying information from official sources when using social media. In these ways students can proactively identify, avoid, and respond to online risks.
Through real-life demonstrations of common online scam scenarios, Captain Le Ngoc Khanh helped Van Hien students develop and strengthen a “safety first” mindset — always being cautious when using the internet and social networking platforms to avoid falling into hidden traps in cyberspace.
Students actively engage during the workshop
After the workshop, Van Hien students became "true warriors" equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and the community from dangers in cyberspace. The values gained will continue to help them create a positive impact in the future.
The "Enhancing Identification Capacity and Equipping Students with High-Tech Crime Prevention Skills" workshop highlighted the importance of raising awareness and developing skills to prevent cybercrime in the digital age. Events such as this contribute to the creation of a more sophisticated community of students who can use the internet safely and lawfully.