Chi, a durian seller in Phu Nhuan District, has not been able to book deliveries through apps due to the mobility restrictions and so called a man who used to deliver for him in the past.

Nguyen came and picked up VND2.3 million ($101.26) worth of durian and delivered to customers but never returned with the money.

All Chi’s calls and messages went unanswered.

He said: "He was kind and enthusiastic when I first booked him. I never thought I would be tricked like this."

Thao of District 7 tried to find a delivery person on Facebook groups to send a package of food to a friend in need.

A man named Dinh took the package worth nearly VND2 million and went away. Thao’s friend never received it.

With people ordered to "stay where they are", at least 10 complaints about such shipping frauds have been posted on a Facebook group of 69,000 members this week.

Similar stories are found on other groups selling cosmetics and snacks, as shippers take advantage of the high demand to make money even if it is by simply stealing.

They also demand three or four times the normal rate.

Delivery companies claimed these frauds only happen to those who book services outside their apps.

Some companies are operating in a limited manner in comply with the restrictions.

AhaMove does not offer services in Thu Duc City and seven districts which are deemed to be high-risk. It does not offer delivery by motorbike either, only trucks and vans.

LoShip still operates but does not do inter-district delivery.

Starting July 26, HCMC only allows shippers to transport essential goods while requiring strict social distancing measures.

For over a month now, HCMC has been the epicenter of the ongoing Covid-19 wave that began in late April. It has recorded nearly 200,000 local Covid-19 cases ever since the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam in late April.