The financial authorities said on the 10th that new schemes are spreading in which scammers pose as delivery companies, government agencies, or financial firms around the holiday period, or manipulate the voices of family members and acquaintances using artificial intelligence (AI), and warned that extra caution is needed.
The Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service said voice phishing crimes are expected to surge ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, when demand for cash rises, and released "10 rules to prevent voice phishing" that day.
The preventive rules released this time include response guidelines by crime type that have been frequent recently, such as impersonating institutions or acquaintances, posing as lenders, installing malicious applications (apps), delivery scams, and preemptive prevention.
A representative tactic is when a scammer posing as the prosecution or the financial authorities tries to frighten victims by saying "your identity was stolen and a bank account under a borrowed name was opened." To control the victim's actions, they claim they are currently investigating and prevent the victim from hanging up, which the financial authorities explained is a typical scam. In this case, you should hang up and call the main numbers of the Korean National Police Agency and the Prosecution Service directly to verify the facts. Any call from an investigative agency that says it will "help you avoid being detained" and tells you to check into a motel alone is also 100% a scam.
Cases of impersonating family or acquaintances using AI technology are increasing. Scammers manipulate the voice of a child or relative with AI, play it to the victim, and demand money. The financial authorities advised hanging up first, then directly checking with the school, cram school, or acquaintances, or immediately reporting to the police.
Voice phishing crimes that use loans as bait are also frequent. Criminals demand advance payments such as deposits, security deposits, insurance premiums, and escrow funds, claiming they are needed for loan approval. They also demand repayment of existing loans, saying duplicate loans occurred due to refinancing. Any case in which a financial company requires an advance payment as a loan condition is 100% a scam.
The financial authorities said that if a criminal asks you to install an app, you should refuse firmly and never click on unclear links (URLs). If you receive a notice about a court registration being returned, verify it directly with the court, and if you are told a card you did not apply for has been shipped and are given a specific contact to cancel issuance, hang up first and check the facts through the "Naecard at a glance" service.
An official at the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said, "If you learn the schemes that have been rampant recently and respond calmly, you can prevent a large share of voice phishing damage," adding, "If you suspect voice phishing damage, do not hesitate to seek help from the police or a financial company employee."