In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s bustling economic hub, a growing number of residents are grappling with an unusual and frustrating problem: fake delivery orders. Local businesses and individuals report a sharp rise in fraudulent orders placed through online platforms, leaving them with unpaid bills, wasted resources, and a sense of violation. This emerging scam, while seemingly minor compared to larger cybercrimes, is eroding trust in the city’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
A Growing Problem in a Digital Age
For many small business owners in Ho Chi Minh City, online delivery platforms have become a lifeline, connecting them with customers across the sprawling metropolis. However, the convenience of these services is being undermined by scammers who place large orders—often for food or goods—only to disappear when payment is due. Restaurant owners and delivery drivers are frequently left bearing the cost of these unpaid orders, with little recourse to recover their losses.
One local restauranteur, Tran Minh Anh, described the impact on her small noodle shop in District 1. She explained that after preparing a large order worth over 1,200,000 Vietnamese Dong (~US$48), the customer failed to answer calls or show up for payment. Such incidents, she noted, have become alarmingly common in recent months, straining her already tight margins. 
Beyond financial losses, the emotional toll is evident. Residents and business owners feel targeted by these scams, which exploit the trust inherent in online transactions. Delivery drivers, often working long hours for modest pay, are also caught in the crossfire, sometimes forced to cover the cost of undelivered goods out of their own pockets.
How the Scam Operates
The mechanics of the fake delivery order scam are deceptively simple. Scammers typically use stolen or fake identities to create accounts on popular delivery apps. They place substantial orders, often requesting delivery to remote or nonexistent addresses. When the driver arrives, there is no customer to receive the goods, and the scammer’s contact information proves unreachable. In some cases, the orders are placed with the intent of harassment, targeting specific individuals or businesses with repeated fraudulent requests.
According to local reports, the rise in these incidents coincides with the rapid growth of Vietnam’s e-commerce and food delivery sectors. Ho Chi Minh City, with its tech-savvy population and dense urban environment, is a prime target for such scams. While exact figures on the scale of the problem are unavailable, anecdotal evidence suggests hundreds of businesses may be affected monthly, with losses ranging from a few dollars to hundreds per incident.
Community and Business Response
In response to the surge in fake orders, some business owners are taking matters into their own hands. Many now require upfront payment or verification of customer details before processing large orders. However, these measures can deter legitimate customers and add friction to the online ordering process, potentially harming sales.
Delivery platforms are also under pressure to address the issue. While some have introduced stricter account verification processes, scammers often find ways to circumvent these safeguards. Community forums and social media groups in Ho Chi Minh City are abuzz with warnings and shared experiences, as residents attempt to protect one another from falling victim to the scam.
Local authorities have acknowledged the problem, though no comprehensive policy or crackdown has been announced. Cybersecurity experts suggest that stronger collaboration between delivery platforms, law enforcement, and businesses is needed to trace and deter scammers. For now, the burden of prevention largely falls on those directly affected.
A Symptom of Broader Challenges
The fake delivery order scam reflects broader challenges facing Vietnam as it embraces digital transformation. With one of the fastest-growing digital economies in Southeast Asia, the country is navigating the pitfalls of rapid technological adoption. Cybercrime, ranging from phishing schemes to sophisticated hacking, is on the rise, and smaller-scale scams like fake orders often slip through the cracks of enforcement efforts.
For Ho Chi Minh City’s residents, the issue is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that accompany convenience. Trust, a cornerstone of community and commerce, is being tested as scammers exploit the gaps in digital systems. While the financial impact of each fake order may be small, the cumulative effect on businesses and individuals is significant, fostering a climate of caution in an otherwise vibrant city.
As the city continues to grow as a hub of innovation and commerce, finding ways to combat these petty but pervasive scams will be crucial. For now, residents and business owners remain on guard, hoping for solutions that will restore confidence in the digital tools they’ve come to rely on.
