Supporting Older People at Risk of Financial Scams Across Care Settings in Viet Nam: Recognizing Manipulation, Respecting Financial Autonomy and Coordinating Support

Supporting Older People at Risk of Financial Scams Across Care Settings in Viet Nam: Recognizing Manipulation, Respecting Financial Autonomy and Coordinating Support

Age-Friendly Care Quality | Measurement, Implementation & Learning

Last reviewed: November 3, 2026

An older woman living at home receives a telephone call from someone claiming to represent a social insurance agency. The caller explains that her pension records need to be updated immediately and warns that her payments may be interrupted if she does not complete the process. The caller knows her name and some personal details, making the request appear credible.

She is directed to a website resembling an official government service and asked to provide banking information. When she hesitates, the caller becomes more insistent, telling her not to delay or discuss the matter with anyone else.

Later that day, a home-care worker notices that she seems worried. The woman explains that someone has contacted her about her pension, but she does not want to trouble her family. The worker suspects something may be wrong yet is unsure how to help without intruding into her financial affairs.

This hypothetical situation illustrates a concern that can arise across older-person care. Financial scams may reach people through telephone calls, messaging applications, social media, fraudulent websites, or apparently familiar contacts. Their consequences can extend beyond financial loss, affecting emotional well-being, confidence, relationships, and the ability to meet everyday needs.

Healthcare and long-term care organizations are not banks, financial regulators, or law enforcement agencies. Nevertheless, their workers may notice concerns that others have not recognized. They may also be approached by an older person who feels frightened, uncertain, or uncomfortable about a financial request.

The challenge is to respond constructively without assuming that older people are incapable of managing their finances.

For organizations supporting older people in Viet Nam, an appropriate approach involves recognizing possible manipulation, encouraging independent verification, respecting financial autonomy, and helping individuals reach relevant organizations when assistance is needed.

Financial Scams Can Affect Anyone, Regardless of Age

Financial scams involve deceptive or manipulative practices intended to obtain money, personal information, access to financial accounts, or other benefits.

They can affect people of any age, educational background, or financial circumstances. Professional experience, financial knowledge, or confidence with technology does not make someone immune to deception.

Some older adults may encounter circumstances that influence their exposure to scams or the consequences of financial loss. They may receive pensions, manage retirement savings, own property, or use digital financial services. Others may be unfamiliar with certain technologies or depend on relatives and caregivers for practical assistance. These circumstances should not be confused with a general assumption that older people lack financial judgment.

The United States Federal Trade Commission's Protecting Older Consumers 2025–2026 report, published on October 19, 2026, provides useful international context.

According to reports submitted to the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network, aggregate reported fraud losses among people aged 60 and older increased from approximately USD 600 million in 2020 to USD 3 billion in 2025. Much of this growth was associated with reports of exceptionally large individual losses, particularly those involving investment scams, impersonation, and other forms of financial deception.

The FTC also found that older adults continued to report losing money to fraud at lower rates than younger adults, while reporting higher median financial losses when harm occurred. Among people aged 80 and older who reported monetary loss in 2025, the median reported loss was USD 2,000.

These findings require careful interpretation. The figures describe reported incidents and losses, not every instance of fraud or the total amount actually lost. Reporting behavior, exposure to different scams, and other factors may influence comparisons between age groups. The FTC separately estimated that the overall financial cost of fraud to older Americans could be substantially higher than reported losses, although those estimates depend on assumptions about underreporting and carry considerable uncertainty.

The findings concern the United States and should not be used to estimate the prevalence, financial cost, or relative risk of scams among older people in Viet Nam.

For HLVN, the important distinction is between exposure to manipulation and a person's right and ability to make financial decisions. Someone may be fully capable of managing money and still be deceived by a sophisticated fraudulent scheme. Recognizing that possibility supports protection without treating older age as evidence of incapacity.

Recognizing Manipulation Matters More Than Memorizing Every Scam

Financial scams change as technology, payment methods, and public awareness evolve.

A fraudulent website may disappear and reappear under another name. A caller may impersonate a bank one day and a government agency the next. A message may claim to concern a parcel delivery, pension payment, medical appointment, or urgent family matter.

For care organizations, memorizing every emerging scam is less useful than understanding how fraudsters attempt to influence people's decisions.

A common tactic is to create artificial urgency. The person may be told that a bank account will be frozen, a benefit will be suspended, or a family member will face serious consequences unless payment is made immediately. The caller may claim official authority, discourage independent verification, or insist that the conversation remain secret.

Other schemes build trust gradually. Someone may establish repeated contact, offer friendship, claim professional expertise, or present an attractive investment opportunity. A request for money may come only after the older person believes a genuine relationship has developed.

Some scams rely primarily on fear, while others exploit affection, trust, hope, or the desire to resolve a legitimate problem. What connects them is the use of deception or manufactured circumstances to influence a financial decision.

On September 8, 2026, Viet Nam's Ministry of Public Security published a warning describing 25 common online scam scenarios, organized into five groups. These covered impersonation of authorities and organizations, artificial intelligence-assisted impersonation, fraudulent financial investment and employment opportunities, deceptive online transactions, and attempts to steal personal information or gain control of digital devices.

The warning specifically identified the misuse of technologies such as deepfake images, synthetic voices, and other forms of impersonation.

These developments matter because familiar signs of credibility are no longer sufficient. A recognizable voice, an official-looking logo, or a familiar name displayed on a telephone screen does not necessarily establish that the communication is genuine.

Care workers do not need to become digital fraud investigators. They need to recognize circumstances that may warrant independent verification and understand how to offer appropriate support without taking over the person's financial decisions.

Recent Vietnamese Warnings Show How Familiar Services Can Be Misused

Scammers often imitate organizations that people already know and trust. For older people, these may include social insurance agencies, banks, healthcare providers, government offices, or family members.

On July 28, 2026, Vinh Long Provincial Police published a warning specifically addressing scam tactics targeting older adults.

The warning described callers impersonating social insurance personnel and telling people that pension or benefit records needed to be updated. To appear credible, scammers could provide genuine-looking personal details, send documents carrying official-style logos, use messaging applications such as Zalo, or direct people to websites resembling those of government agencies.

The next step might involve obtaining banking information, verification codes, identity details, or authorization for a financial transaction.

The warning also described attempts to impersonate relatives through manipulated caller information and AI-generated voices. A person might receive an urgent request for money from someone whose voice appears to resemble that of a child or grandchild. The caller may describe an accident, emergency treatment, or another situation requiring immediate payment.

These schemes exploit understandable concerns. A pension recipient has a legitimate interest in maintaining access to benefits. A parent or grandparent may naturally want to help a family member facing an emergency. The problem is not that these concerns are unreasonable, but that scammers use them to discourage independent verification.

The Vinh Long warning also described fraudulent health-related offers, including supposed free medical examinations, gifts, and products promoted through exaggerated treatment claims.

Such scenarios are relevant to healthcare and care organizations because older people may regard health-related communications as particularly important or credible.

A worker may hear that a resident has been promised a free medical examination but must first provide banking details or pay an unexpected fee. The worker does not need to determine whether the offer is criminally fraudulent to recognize that the request deserves verification.

Vietnamese authorities advise people not to disclose passwords, one-time verification codes, or sensitive banking credentials in response to unsolicited requests. They also recommend checking suspicious communications through independently obtained official contact channels.

These messages can be incorporated into older-person care education without turning care providers into financial institutions.

A Suspicious Request Is Not Proof of a Scam

Care workers may encounter circumstances that appear unusual. An older resident may receive repeated calls from an unfamiliar person. Someone receiving home care may become anxious about transferring money. A family member may report that an older relative has begun sending money to someone met online.

These situations may warrant attention, but they do not automatically establish that fraud has occurred.

People make legitimate financial choices that others may find surprising or disagree with. An older person may decide to support a relative financially, purchase an expensive product, make a donation, or accept an investment risk. A decision may be unwise from another person's perspective without necessarily involving deception, coercion, or impaired decision-making.

The organization's response should therefore begin by distinguishing observed facts from assumptions.

A worker may know that a resident has received repeated urgent requests for money but not know whether those requests are fraudulent or have already been verified. Similarly, reluctance to discuss financial matters may reflect a reasonable desire for privacy rather than evidence of exploitation.

Concern becomes more significant when several features suggest manipulation, including threats, inconsistent explanations, pressure to transfer money, demands for confidential credentials, or attempts to prevent independent verification.

The appropriate response is to explore the concern respectfully, consider whether there is an immediate risk, and help the person obtain suitable assistance where appropriate.

Care organizations should not independently declare that someone has been defrauded, that a transaction is legally invalid, or that an individual lacks financial decision-making capacity. These questions may require assessment by a bank, qualified professional, competent authority, or court, depending on the circumstances.

The worker's role is to recognize a possible problem and respond appropriately, not to establish criminal wrongdoing.

Financial Autonomy Must Remain the Starting Point

A central principle of person-centered care is that older people retain their lawful rights to make decisions about their own lives, including decisions concerning money and property.

An older person does not lose financial autonomy simply by entering residential care, receiving home-care services, or requiring assistance with daily activities.

Viet Nam's Law on Older Persons No. 39/2009/QH12, as amended, provides important protections. Article 9 prohibits conduct that infringes or obstructs older people's lawful property rights. It also prohibits exploiting care or support provided to older people for personal gain.

These provisions are relevant both to financial safeguarding and to the conduct of care providers.

Concern about possible scams does not automatically authorize an organization to take control of a resident's money, restrict bank access, or make financial decisions on the person's behalf. Similarly, a relative's involvement in care does not necessarily establish unrestricted authority over the older person's property or accounts.

The Civil Code No. 91/2015/QH13 provides the broader legal framework for civil act capacity, representation, guardianship, and property-related transactions.

Articles 22 and 23 address specific legal circumstances involving loss of civil act capacity and difficulties in cognition or behavioral control. These situations are subject to prescribed legal requirements and, where applicable, court decisions.

Care workers and family members cannot independently impose such a legal status simply because someone is older, has dementia, or makes a financial decision they consider questionable.

Representation and the scope of a representative's authority must be determined according to applicable law and individual circumstances.

Being deceived does not automatically establish an inability to make financial decisions. A person who has experienced a sophisticated scam may retain full civil act capacity.

A responsible care organization should recognize possible exploitation while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on the individual's lawful autonomy.

Offering Help Should Not Become Taking Control

When staff suspect a financial scam, they may feel pressure to act quickly. They may want to examine a resident's telephone, contact relatives, review banking information, or stop a payment.

Some actions may appear protective but could exceed the worker's authority or interfere with the person's rights.

Where circumstances allow, a useful starting point is a private and respectful conversation with the older person. A worker may explain that the request contains features associated with financial scams and ask whether the person would like assistance verifying it.

The conversation should avoid blame.

Someone who has already shared information or transferred money may feel embarrassed and reluctant to describe what happened. A judgmental response can make it more difficult for the person to seek further help.

The worker should not insist that the person surrender a telephone, disclose passwords, or permit access to private financial records without an appropriate lawful basis.

Care providers should not request banking passwords, PINs, one-time verification codes, or unrestricted access to financial applications as a routine means of offering assistance. Nor should they approve transactions, transfer money, freeze accounts, or act as financial representatives without the necessary lawful authority.

Where the person wants help, the organization may support contact with a bank, trusted individual, or another relevant service within its agreed role and applicable legal requirements.

If credible indications of immediate danger, coercion, or unlawful conduct arise, additional safeguarding or reporting responsibilities may need to be considered. The appropriate response depends on the circumstances, applicable law, and the services the organization is authorized to provide.

Protecting someone from financial harm should not create another form of unauthorized control.

Independent Verification Can Interrupt Manipulation

One of the most useful responses to a suspicious financial request is to help the person verify its source independently.

This is different from asking the suspected caller to provide additional evidence. A scammer may supply convincing documents, an official-looking website, or a telephone number connected to the same fraudulent operation.

The person may therefore need to contact the relevant organization using information obtained separately from the suspicious communication.

A message apparently coming from a bank can be checked through the bank's established official channels. A request concerning pensions or social insurance can be verified through the appropriate official service. An urgent appeal from a relative can be checked by contacting that person through a previously known and trusted method or by communicating with another trusted family member.

The important point is to avoid relying solely on contact details, links, or instructions supplied by the person making the suspicious request.

Independent verification creates an opportunity to consider the situation without the pressure imposed by the apparent sender.

Care workers may help an older person locate an established contact channel, arrange a telephone call, or communicate with an appropriately authorized supporter. However, they should not assume responsibility for authenticating financial transactions or guaranteeing that a particular website, investment, or payment request is legitimate.

The individual or legally authorized representative should remain involved in financial decisions according to the circumstances.

Independent verification is useful because it interrupts the artificial urgency and secrecy on which many scams depend. It offers practical protection without requiring the care provider to make a definitive judgment about criminal intent.

When Money or Banking Information Has Already Been Shared

The situation becomes more urgent when an older person reports that money has already been transferred or financial credentials have been disclosed.

The response should be timely, but it must remain within appropriate professional and legal responsibilities.

The July 2026 warning from Vinh Long Provincial Police advises people who believe they have been scammed to contact their bank promptly, preserve relevant information, and report suspected fraud to the police.

These are practical steps that care organizations can help older people access when appropriate.

The bank is responsible for assessing available account-protection or transaction-related measures under its procedures and applicable law. Law enforcement authorities are responsible for receiving and addressing suspected criminal conduct within their competence.

The care provider's role may be to help the person make contact, communicate the concern, and obtain support, where the individual requests or lawfully authorizes that assistance or another appropriate legal basis applies.

Care workers should not promise that a transfer can be reversed or that lost money will be recovered. The possibilities depend on the circumstances, timing, payment method, and relevant banking and legal processes.

Information such as suspicious messages, contact details, payment instructions, and transaction records may assist the relevant organizations. However, preserving or sharing such information must be handled lawfully and with appropriate attention to privacy.

Workers should not undertake unauthorized digital investigations, access private financial accounts, or circulate sensitive transaction information through informal communication groups.

People who have experienced a scam may also face further contact from individuals falsely claiming they can recover lost money in exchange for additional payment. Such requests should be treated cautiously and independently verified.

The care provider's responsibility is to support appropriate action and communication, not to guarantee recovery or replace official banking and investigation procedures.

Emotional and Practical Consequences Deserve Attention

Financial scams can cause more than monetary loss.

Someone who has been deceived may experience embarrassment, anxiety, anger, fear, or loss of confidence. Some people may hesitate to tell family members because they worry about criticism or losing control over their finances. Others may become concerned that their personal information has been compromised or that another fraudulent contact will follow.

The World Health Organization recognizes financial and material abuse as forms of harm affecting older people and describes potentially serious psychological, social, and financial consequences.

However, an important distinction should be maintained. WHO's definition of elder abuse involves conduct occurring within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust.

A scam perpetrated by an unknown person does not necessarily fall within that definition, although it may still cause serious harm and create needs relevant to safeguarding and care support.

For example, someone who has lost a substantial amount of savings may struggle to pay for necessary services, obtain daily supplies, or maintain their usual living arrangements. The organization's response should consider whether the incident has affected the person's access to essential care or everyday well-being.

This does not mean that care workers should assess investment losses, provide financial counseling, or deliver psychological treatment beyond their competence. They can recognize distress, respond respectfully, and help the person access appropriate professional or community support.

Repeatedly questioning someone about how they were deceived may increase embarrassment without improving the response. Comments suggesting that the person should have known better may also discourage future disclosure.

Fraudulent schemes are deliberately designed to manipulate people. Recognizing this can help staff respond without judgment and focus on what assistance is useful now.

The aim is to help older people regain confidence and obtain suitable support while preserving dignity.

Family Support Must Respect Authority and Privacy

Families often play an important role in helping older people manage appointments, digital services, and everyday activities. They may also provide valuable support when an older relative receives suspicious financial requests.

However, family involvement should reflect the person's preferences, applicable legal authority, and the circumstances.

A residential care facility should not automatically disclose private financial information to every relative who requests it. Similarly, a home-care worker should not assume that an adult child is legally authorized to inspect or control a parent's accounts.

Some older people may wish to involve a particular relative in verifying a suspicious communication. Others may prefer to obtain assistance directly from a bank, lawyer, or another trusted person. These preferences should be respected where lawful and appropriate.

The organization should also recognize that financial exploitation can sometimes involve someone personally known to the older person.

A relative, caregiver, or another trusted individual may be the source of pressure or may have a conflict of interest. Automatically transferring information or control to the nearest family member may therefore be inappropriate in some circumstances.

Where coercion or exploitation by someone in a position of trust is suspected, the facility should follow suitable safeguarding arrangements and seek qualified advice when necessary.

This does not mean that families should be treated with general suspicion. It means that family involvement, like any other support arrangement, should protect the older person's rights and interests without unnecessarily limiting independence.

Different Care Settings Have Different Responsibilities

Financial scam prevention is not a regulated clinical treatment or an automatic component of every care agreement.

Nevertheless, healthcare and care providers may encounter signs of manipulation while carrying out their existing services.

A hospital employee may notice that an older patient is receiving repeated threatening calls during an admission. A home-care worker may hear a client expressing anxiety about an urgent request for money. A residential care manager may be approached by someone who is unsure whether a payment demand is genuine.

These situations create opportunities to offer support, but the organizations involved do not necessarily have identical duties.

A hospital, residential social assistance facility, community service, and private home-care provider may operate under different legal and contractual arrangements. Each organization should understand how staff can raise concerns, who coordinates an appropriate response, and how the older person can reach external organizations with the relevant authority.

Situations involving possible coercion, criminal conduct, or immediate threats may require different action from routine requests for help checking a message.

Care workers should not be authorized through an internal policy to undertake banking activities, investigate crimes, or determine financial capacity beyond their professional and legal responsibilities.

Organizations should also avoid routine inspection of residents' communications or financial transactions merely because scams are a recognized concern.

A proportionate approach may include accessible education, confidential ways to raise concerns, staff guidance, and appropriate coordination with external services.

For a smaller home-care provider, this may involve a straightforward process for contacting a supervisor and helping the client reach the relevant organization. A larger residential service may require more structured coordination between managers, care staff, and external partners.

Neither arrangement should imply that the care organization can replace the legal authority of banks, police, or courts.

Viet Nam's Consumer Protection Law Provides an Additional Safeguard

An important legal distinction arises when financial manipulation occurs in connection with the purchase or use of products and services.

Viet Nam's Law on Protection of Consumers' Rights No. 19/2023/QH15 took effect on July 1, 2024.

Article 8 specifically addresses vulnerable consumers and includes older persons among the groups recognized within the law.

This is a legal consumer protection classification. It does not establish that older people generally lack financial capacity or decision-making ability.

The provision recognizes that certain consumers may experience disadvantages in accessing information, protecting health or property, or resolving disputes when purchasing or using products and services.

This framework may be relevant to misleading sales practices, inappropriate commercial pressure, or other conduct falling within the law's scope.

For example, an older person may be persuaded to purchase an expensive health product through exaggerated treatment claims or an offer that appears to come from a trustworthy institution. A care worker may recognize that the person is being pressured or has not received reliable information.

Where the matter falls within consumer protection law, appropriate consumer remedies or assistance may be available.

However, the same legal framework should not be assumed to govern every type of financial scam.

An impersonation call demanding money for a fictitious criminal investigation or an emergency involving a supposed relative may raise criminal and banking issues beyond ordinary consumer transactions.

Care providers should therefore avoid treating every suspected scam as a consumer dispute. The appropriate legal pathway depends on the conduct involved, the organizations concerned, and the nature of the alleged harm.

For HLVN, the significance is that Vietnamese law recognizes the need for additional protection in certain consumer situations while preserving older people's general rights to make their own decisions.

Personal Data Protection Is Central to Scam-Related Support

Many financial scams seek personal information before attempting to obtain money.

A caller may request identity details, bank account information, passwords, verification codes, or access to a mobile device. Such information may be misused to impersonate the individual, access accounts, or facilitate further fraudulent activity.

Care organizations should recognize that helping someone respond to a suspected scam can itself involve sensitive information.

Viet Nam's Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15 and Government Decree No. 356/2025/ND-CP both took effect on January 1, 2026.

They form part of the legal framework governing personal data processing. The relevant obligations depend on the organization, the information involved, the purposes of processing, and the applicable legal grounds.

A care provider should not assume that concern about financial harm gives employees unrestricted permission to inspect someone's telephone, banking records, or private messages. Nor should information about a suspected scam be shared indiscriminately among staff, relatives, or other parties.

Where information is necessary for a legitimate safeguarding or coordination purpose, it should be handled proportionately and in accordance with applicable law.

Workers should be particularly cautious about recording banking credentials, copying identity documents, or distributing transaction screenshots through unsecured channels.

A factual record of a concern may be appropriate in some circumstances, but the information recorded should be limited to what is necessary for the organization's responsibilities. The facility should also consider whether the record could create additional harm if accessed by an unauthorized person.

Protecting an older person from a suspected scam should not introduce a new privacy or data-security risk.

Staff Education Should Strengthen Judgment Without Encouraging Overreach

Frontline workers may be among the first people to hear about a suspicious financial request, but they cannot be expected to identify every emerging scam.

Fraud methods change frequently. Staff education should therefore focus on recognizing common manipulation patterns and responding within the worker's role.

Relevant warning signs may include impersonation, artificial urgency, demands for secrecy, threatening language, unexpected payment requests, and attempts to obtain confidential financial credentials.

Workers should also understand how to communicate concerns without frightening or humiliating the person. A useful response may involve offering time to verify information, helping identify an established contact channel, or referring the concern to an appropriate manager or external organization.

Professional boundaries need to remain clear.

Employees should not request residents' passwords or PINs, handle bank verification codes, take control of financial applications, or make unauthorized transactions. They should also avoid confidently declaring that a request is fraudulent when the available information is incomplete.

Where a situation involves possible coercion, legal capacity concerns, financial exploitation, or suspected criminal activity, qualified professional or competent-authority assistance may be necessary.

Competence includes recognizing when an issue falls outside one's responsibilities.

Staff education should also address the possibility of financial misconduct by people who provide care. Viet Nam's Law on Older Persons prohibits exploiting care arrangements for personal gain, and organizations should maintain appropriate professional boundaries and accountability concerning employees' financial dealings with residents and clients.

The objective is not to turn care workers into financial advisers. It is to help them recognize concerning situations, communicate respectfully, and connect older people with appropriate support.

Scam Awareness Should Build Confidence Rather Than Fear

Scam awareness activities may help older people recognize suspicious requests, but their design matters.

Messages portraying all digital financial services as dangerous may discourage people from using legitimate technology that supports independence. Similarly, educational materials that assume older people lack digital knowledge may alienate confident and experienced users.

A more useful approach explains manipulation methods in accessible language and encourages independent verification.

Examples should reflect the local context. In Viet Nam, these may include impersonation of social insurance agencies, banks, healthcare providers, government officials, or relatives using familiar communication platforms.

Information should be updated as official warnings and fraudulent methods change. Care organizations should avoid circulating exaggerated claims or unverified stories that may create unnecessary anxiety.

Older people may prefer different ways of receiving information. Some may appreciate short discussions during community activities, while others may prefer written guidance, conversations with trusted professionals, or accessible digital information.

Vision, hearing, literacy, language preferences, and comfort with technology may influence which approach works best.

Education should make clear that questioning an unexpected request, taking time to verify information, or seeking assistance is compatible with independent financial decision-making.

The desired outcome is not an older person who fears every unfamiliar contact. It is someone who feels able to recognize pressure, question unusual requests, and obtain assistance without surrendering control over their finances.

Coordinated Support Matters When a Concern Is Identified

Scam-related concerns may involve several organizations, each with different responsibilities.

Banks may address account security and transaction issues. Police may receive information concerning suspected criminal conduct. Consumer protection authorities or organizations may be relevant where the matter falls within consumer protection law.

Legal advisers may be needed where representation, property rights, or disputes arise. Healthcare professionals may become involved if an incident has significantly affected the person's health or if a separate clinical concern requires assessment.

No single care organization should be expected to perform all these functions.

The value of coordination lies in helping the older person reach an appropriate source of assistance while keeping responsibilities clear.

For example, a residential care worker may report that a resident is worried about a suspicious payment request. A manager may help the resident identify a suitable banking or law enforcement contact, according to the person's wishes and applicable legal responsibilities.

If the resident requests assistance making the contact, the organization may provide practical support within its authorized role.

Where the concern remains unresolved, any further involvement by the care provider should reflect what has actually been agreed upon or legally required.

The organization should not imply that it can independently investigate a transaction or recover lost funds.

Coordination also requires appropriate confidentiality. Only information necessary for a legitimate purpose should be shared through lawful arrangements.

A well-managed response helps the older person navigate the organizations that can assist without creating confusion about who is responsible for each action.

Measuring Quality Should Focus on Support, Not Financial Control

Financial safeguarding presents particular challenges for quality measurement.

A residential care facility should not judge success by the amount of residents' money held under organizational supervision. Nor should a provider require routine disclosure of private transactions or monitor banking activity merely to demonstrate that scams are being prevented.

Such practices may undermine autonomy and privacy.

More useful measures concern the reliability of the organization's response.

Management may consider whether staff understand how to recognize and report suspected manipulation, whether older people can raise concerns without embarrassment, and whether appropriate support is offered.

The facility may also examine whether agreed assistance with contacting a bank, competent authority, or other service was completed.

Where an incident reveals weaknesses in communication, staff knowledge, or safeguarding arrangements, management can review whether corrective actions were implemented.

Residents' experiences are particularly important. One person may feel reassured because staff offered assistance without taking over. Another may feel humiliated because a financial concern was discussed publicly or disclosed to relatives without an appropriate basis.

These experiences provide valuable information about care quality.

Reported scam incidents and financial losses also require careful interpretation.

A low reporting rate does not necessarily demonstrate that residents are protected. It may indicate reluctance to disclose concerns, limited awareness, or inadequate reporting arrangements.

An increase in reported suspicious contacts may reflect improved recognition and greater willingness to seek assistance.

A financial loss should not automatically be attributed to a failure by the care organization. The circumstances, the provider's actual responsibilities, and the actions reasonably available to it must be considered.

Quality measurement should support learning and accountability without encouraging unnecessary surveillance.

HLVN does not propose a universal incident target, mandatory financial monitoring system, or standardized fraud-screening procedure for every care provider. Any measures adopted should reflect the service, its population, and its applicable responsibilities.

International Quality Principles Support a Rights-Based Approach

ISO 25557:2026, Ageing Societies — Care Quality for Older Persons at Home and in Care Facilities, provides a relevant international reference for the quality of services delivered to older people.

Published in March 2026, the standard specifies requirements and recommendations for care provided at home and in residential settings.

Its principles emphasize individualized needs, participation, self-determination, safety, security, and organizational accountability.

They also recognize the importance of protecting older people from exploitation while respecting their rights and preferences.

These considerations are relevant to financial scam awareness because organizations need to balance the prevention of harm with personal autonomy.

However, ISO 25557 is not a banking regulation, financial fraud investigation standard, or legal procedure for determining financial capacity. It does not authorize care providers to access, control, restrict, or transfer residents' financial assets.

Similarly, WHO resources on elder abuse and international consumer protection guidance offer useful principles concerning prevention, respectful treatment, and coordinated responses. Their definitions and legal contexts must be interpreted carefully.

For HLVN, the appropriate contribution is to help organizations understand how these principles may inform care quality while recognizing the authority of Vietnamese law and competent institutions.

The provider's role is to support the person within its lawful responsibilities, not to become the decision-maker for every financial issue affecting them.

Protecting Older People Means Preserving Both Safety and Choice

Financial scams can undermine much more than a bank balance. They may affect confidence, relationships, financial security, and an older person's willingness to make ordinary decisions without fear.

Healthcare and long-term care organizations cannot prevent every fraudulent contact or guarantee that someone will never lose money. Nor should they assume responsibility for financial decisions that legally belong to the individual or another authorized party.

They can nevertheless make a meaningful contribution.

Workers may recognize concerning patterns, respond without judgment, encourage independent verification, and help older people reach banks, competent authorities, or trusted support when appropriate.

Organizations can maintain professional boundaries, protect confidential information, and create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions before acting on suspicious requests.

For Viet Nam, these arrangements are relevant as digital banking, online public services, electronic payments, and communication technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday life.

The objective should not be to make older people dependent on caregivers for financial decisions. It should be to help them remain informed, independent, and appropriately supported when they encounter potentially deceptive or coercive requests.

Financial autonomy and protection from scams are not opposing goals. Both are necessary for care that respects older people as individuals.

Good financial safeguarding does not mean taking control of an older person's money. It means recognizing possible manipulation, supporting informed decisions, and helping the person obtain appropriate assistance without unnecessarily limiting their rights, independence, or dignity.

Key References and Regulatory Context

Federal Trade Commission, United States. (2026). Protecting Older Consumers 2025–2026: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission. Published October 19, 2026.

Federal Trade Commission, United States. (2026). FTC Issues Annual Report to Congress on Agency's Actions to Protect Older Adults. Published October 19, 2026.

Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam. (2026). Nâng cao cảnh giác trước 25 kịch bản lừa đảo trên không gian mạng năm 2026 [Raising Awareness of 25 Online Scam Scenarios in 2026]. Published September 8, 2026.

Vinh Long Provincial Police. (2026). Cảnh báo chiêu trò lừa đảo mới nhắm vào người cao tuổi [Warning About New Scam Tactics Targeting Older People]. Published July 28, 2026.

World Health Organization. (2024). Abuse of Older People. Fact sheet updated June 15, 2024.

National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2009). Law on Older Persons No. 39/2009/QH12, as amended. Particularly Article 9 concerning prohibited conduct affecting older people's lawful rights and property.

National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2015). Civil Code No. 91/2015/QH13, as amended and applicable. Particularly Articles 22–23 concerning civil act capacity and difficulties in cognition or behavioral control, and relevant provisions concerning representation and property rights.

National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2023). Law on Protection of Consumers' Rights No. 19/2023/QH15. Effective July 1, 2024. Particularly Article 8 concerning the protection of vulnerable consumers.

National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2015). Criminal Code No. 100/2015/QH13, as amended and applicable, including relevant provisions concerning fraudulent appropriation and other potentially unlawful conduct.

National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2025). Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15. Effective January 1, 2026.

Government of Viet Nam. (2025). Decree No. 356/2025/ND-CP Detailing Certain Articles and Measures for Implementation of the Law on Personal Data Protection. Effective January 1, 2026.

International Organization for Standardization. (2026). ISO 25557:2026 — Ageing Societies — Care Quality for Older Persons at Home and in Care Facilities. Published March 2026.

About Healthy Longevity Vietnam

Healthy Longevity Vietnam (HLVN) is a VietnamWellcare initiative advancing evidence-informed and context-appropriate approaches to longer, healthier lives in Viet Nam. Its work connects prevention, healthy aging, care quality, health systems, implementation, and collaboration, with a focus on supporting health, function, participation, and well-being across the life course.

Within this broader mission, HLVN explores opportunities to improve the quality, safety, integration, and responsiveness of care for older people across healthcare, home, community, and long-term care settings.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for general educational, financial scam awareness, safeguarding, quality improvement, and organizational development purposes. It does not constitute individualized financial, banking, investment, legal, or medical advice; a fraud investigation procedure; a formal determination of civil act capacity; or a mandatory national safeguarding or accreditation standard for older-person care in Viet Nam.

The rights and responsibilities relating to financial decisions, property ownership, civil act capacity, representation, guardianship, suspected fraud, and financial exploitation must be determined according to individual circumstances and applicable Vietnamese law. An older person's age, disability, care dependency, diagnosis of dementia, or experience of financial fraud does not automatically remove their legal rights or establish that they lack financial decision-making capacity.

Healthcare and care providers should not assume authority to access, manage, monitor, restrict, freeze, or transfer an older person's financial assets without an appropriate legal basis and authorization. Staff should not request banking passwords, PINs, one-time verification codes, or unrestricted access to personal financial applications as part of routine safeguarding support.

The practices discussed in this article are examples of evidence-informed organizational approaches. They do not create identical legal duties, mandatory fraud-screening procedures, financial monitoring requirements, or reporting arrangements for every healthcare, home-care, community, or residential care provider in Viet Nam.

Where a financial request appears suspicious, independent verification and appropriate support may be helpful. Care organizations do not guarantee the authenticity of financial requests, the safety of investment decisions, or the recovery of money outside their lawful and contractual responsibilities.

Suspected financial fraud, unauthorized transactions, coercion, exploitation, personal data breaches, or other potentially unlawful conduct must be addressed through relevant legal and competent-authority procedures. Internal care organization reviews do not replace official banking processes, legal investigations, or the responsibilities of competent authorities.

The collection, processing, storage, or disclosure of information concerning suspected scams, financial transactions, personal identity, health, or other private matters must comply with applicable confidentiality, privacy, and personal data protection requirements.

Article 8 of the Law on Protection of Consumers' Rights No. 19/2023/QH15 identifies older persons as vulnerable consumers within the law's scope. This classification must not be interpreted as a general legal finding that older people lack financial capacity. Consumer protection procedures should not be assumed to apply identically to every form of criminal fraud or impersonation.

The Federal Trade Commission's 2026 findings concern fraud reports submitted in the United States. The reported financial losses and age-related reporting patterns do not establish the prevalence, total economic cost, or relative risk of financial scams among older people in Viet Nam.

International standards and guidance, including WHO publications, FTC findings, and ISO 25557:2026, are presented as reference points for education and quality improvement. They do not replace Vietnamese law or automatically create legal, financial, clinical, operational, or accreditation obligations for Vietnamese organizations.

Healthy Longevity Vietnam is an educational and quality improvement initiative of VietnamWellcare. It is not a bank, financial adviser, law enforcement agency, government regulator, healthcare provider, residential care operator, or accreditation or certification authority.

Organizations should develop locally appropriate approaches based on their legal status, authorized activities, resident or client population, workforce capabilities, and contractual responsibilities. Qualified legal, financial, banking, healthcare, social care, safeguarding, and other relevant professionals or competent authorities should be consulted where necessary.

Information and regulatory context reviewed as of November 3, 2026.