What Is Online Fortune Telling and Why Has It Exploded?
Online fortune telling is astrology, physiognomy, card reading, spirit communication, and fate resolution offered through social media, apps, or livestreams. It has exploded because the cost of starting a service is nearly zero, the reach is enormous, and it hits a very real human need: wanting to know the future and wanting reassurance when stuck.
According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, a single scroll through Facebook reveals countless fortune-telling groups, some with over 200,000 members. Suc khoe va Doi song newspaper also noted similar groups with hundreds of thousands of participants, along with livestreams to create a sense of authenticity. As Tet approaches, demand for "clearing the old year's bad luck, checking the new year's fate" rises, and services flourish.
The biggest difference from traditional fortune tellers is anonymity and speed. Viewers cannot verify identity, do not meet in person, do not know an address, yet can transfer money in seconds.
When Is Online Fortune Telling Still Just Entertainment?
Online fortune telling can stay in the entertainment zone if you clearly treat it as a game, do not base big decisions on it, and do not pay more than you are willing to lose. Many people watch tarot, draw fun lots, read for fun, then close the app. There is nothing wrong if it does not replace your real decisions.
The entertainment boundary usually has three features:
- You voluntarily pay a small amount, know the price in advance, and are not pressured.
- The content is suggestive, not definitive about illness, finances, or marriage.
- You still decide based on reason and real information, not handing your fate to a stranger.
Conversely, when the reader starts saying things like "this year is a major calamity," "you must resolve it now or you will lose your life," "if you do not perform the ritual your family will fall apart," it is no longer entertainment. It is a fear technique.
What Lines Make Viewers Most Likely to Lose Money?
The leading lines usually follow a clear psychological script: spark curiosity, create anxiety, then sell the solution. Below are the most common and impactful ones.
1. "Free reading for those with a destined connection"
This is the most common opener. It creates a sense of being special, but it is actually a step to collect information. Ms. Dung, 34, an office worker in Hanoi, told Suc khoe va Doi song that after a free reading, she was invited to a deeper reading for 999,000 VND per chart. She transferred the money, then was blocked on Facebook and phone immediately after.
2. "This year's fate is very heavy, you must resolve it now"
This line creates urgency. When afraid, people transfer money without verifying. This is a basic scam principle: create time pressure so the victim has no chance to think clearly.
3. "You need a remote star ritual or fate resolution"
Cybersecurity expert Ngo Minh Hieu pointed out the trick of creating fan pages impersonating large pagodas or famous feng shui masters, advertising paid rituals and online fate resolution. After receiving money, they block contact. This is a dangerous variant because it wears a spiritual cloak, making victims less suspicious.
4. "This item has been blessed, worth many times more"
Bracelets and safety charms are hyped in value and sold at many times their real price. Buyers believe they are buying peace of mind, but actually buy an ordinary item.
5. "Give me your birth date and time, phone number, account"
This is the most dangerous line because it takes not only money but data. Under the Law on Personal Data Protection, full name, date of birth, phone number, email, and financial information are all personal data. Criminals use them to build financial scam scripts, impersonate you, or take over accounts later.
Identification Table: Healthy Entertainment or Scam Signs?
| Sign | Healthy Entertainment | Scam Sign |
|---|---|---|
| How it is offered | Clear price, no pressure | Free for destined connection, then demands money |
| Reading content | Suggestive, not definitive | Definitive about calamity, disaster, illness |
| Payment request | Pay after, small amount, known in advance | Transfer first, price increases gradually |
| Add-on services | None | Star rituals, fate resolution, selling blessed items |
| Personal information | Not requested | Asks for birth date and time, phone number, account |
| After payment | Still reachable | Blocks contact immediately |
Why Do Viewers Become Willing Victims?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Canh Thin, deputy director of the Institute for Non-Traditional Security, commented that Vietnamese people often believe in things outside themselves more than in themselves, reflecting a lack of confidence and a negative outlook on life. He called this "willing victims of crime."
The psychological mechanism here is notable:
- When stuck, people seek support. A definitive prediction brings a sense of control, even if false.
- When afraid, risk assessment drops sharply. Ordinary people can become gullible after just a few threats.
- Once they have paid once, the "already committed" mentality makes them keep paying to recover.
This is not a weakness unique to Vietnamese people. It is a common human weakness, exploited deliberately.
What Does Vietnamese Law Say About Fortune Telling and Fraud?
According to lawyer Diep Nang Binh, practicing superstition can be administratively fined under Point d, Article 14 of Decree 38/2021/ND-CP, with fines from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 VND for organizing superstitious activities.
If already administratively fined and still violating, criminal liability may apply. In particular, if deceptive information of a superstitious nature is used to appropriate property worth 2,000,000 VND or more, the perpetrator may be prosecuted for "Fraudulent appropriation of property" under Article 174 of the Penal Code.
A clear distinction is needed: fortune telling as a cultural or entertainment activity, not aimed at appropriation, is not automatically a crime. But when it becomes superstition causing negative impact, or a tool for appropriation, the law intervenes.
Personal Data: The Hidden Profit Behind Every Reading
According to the Authority of Information Security, users need to be wary of transfer requests and should not blindly trust spiritual forms online. But the risk does not stop at money.
When you provide your full name, birth date and time, and phone number, you are giving strangers material to:
- Make impersonation calls, threaten debt, lawsuits, or accidents.
- Build sophisticated financial scam scripts based on your real information.
- Open fake accounts, post violating content in your name.
- Sell data to third parties for advertising, harassment, or extortion.
Expert Ngo Minh Hieu advises limiting sharing of detailed family information and birth date and time publicly in fortune-telling groups, as that is material for social engineering attacks.
How to Protect Yourself If You Still Want an Online Reading
You do not need to give up entirely if fortune telling is a hobby. What is needed is to set clear boundaries before starting.
- Decide in advance the maximum amount you are willing to lose, and do not exceed it.
- Do not provide ID numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, or OTP codes to anyone.
- Do not transfer money to personal accounts claiming to represent a pagoda or religious institution.
- Check the page: verification badge, name change history, founding date, feedback from other users.
- If threatened, stop, save evidence, and report to cybersecurity authorities.
For health, financial, or marital issues, seek real experts: doctors, financial advisors, lawyers, psychologists. Fortune telling cannot replace these people.
Is Online Fortune Telling Always Bad?
No. Fortune telling is part of folk culture, and for many people it is a gentle spiritual support. The problem is not the act of fortune telling itself, but the practitioner and how they use others' beliefs.
When the reader respects boundaries, does not threaten, does not demand money upfront, and does not promise to change fate with money, it can still be a cultural experience. When they cross that line, that is when you need to be clear-headed.
As expert Ngo Minh Hieu said: "Spirituality is a mental support, but clear-headedness is the shield protecting your assets."
