Abstract

The proliferation of generative artificial intelligence and online platforms has facilitated scams involving psychological manipulation, particularly the impersonation of judicial authorities and “online kidnapping” schemes used to coerce victims into transferring property. This article examines the application of Article 174 of Vietnam’s 2015 Penal Code, as amended in 2017, including its penalty framework and qualifying circumstances, and distinguishes fraudulent appropriation from the offenses regulated under Articles 170 and 290. Drawing on international standards and Singapore’s experience, the study recommends clarifying offense-classification guidelines, accelerating the freezing of illicit financial flows, strengthening asset recovery mechanisms, and enhancing cross-border cooperation. It also emphasizes that technologies such as deepfakes and voice cloning constitute means of committing an offense and should not be equated with its statutory elements.

Keywords: Article 174 of the Penal Code, deepfake, fraudulent appropriation of property, online kidnapping, online psychological coercion, penalties.