Korea Association of Realtors(KAR) on the 1st urged caution, saying scam cases are occurring one after another in which perpetrators impersonate licensed real estate agents and embezzle down payments on direct transaction platforms.
According to the association, the scam suspects are deceiving victims by pretending to be licensed real estate agents and seizing down payments. They were found to have cleverly used IDs, business cards, and the old surety certificate format used before 2024 to forge personal details and present them to consumers they met on direct transaction sites. An association official said, "At least two cases of damage have been identified so far," adding, "Police are currently investigating."
The association noted that this is a serious crime that exploits trust in licensed professionals, and it is concerned about damage to young adults who have little real estate experience and frequently use direct transactions. To prevent damage, the association said it is necessary to: ▲ verify on the site whether the agent is a registered licensed real estate agent ▲ check normal business operations by visiting the brokerage office in person ▲ deposit the down payment and other transaction amounts into the account of the owner listed on the registry ▲ check for forgery of the surety certificate.
Regarding the surety certificate, the association said, "To prevent impersonation of licensed real estate agents, since 2024, surety certificates have been issued with an 'anti-counterfeiting barcode' automatically inserted at the bottom," adding, "It is essential to check this during real estate transactions." If you install the "Voiceye" application on your mobile phone and scan the barcode at the bottom of the surety certificate, you can immediately verify whether it matches the actual information issued by the association. In addition, if you photograph the QR code at the top of the certificate with your phone's camera, you can also check the office's establishment registration information and whether it is enrolled in the surety program.