The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency warned that cyber fraud crimes such as smishing impersonating parcel delivery or government subsidies could increase ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
On the 11th, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said, "During the holiday, parcel volumes surge and the use of mobile transfers and online shopping increases, making it easy to exploit for crime," adding, "Phishing techniques are becoming more sophisticated and diverse."
Representative cases cited by police include texts requesting correction of a delivery address, scams touting holiday gifts or mobile gift certificates, messages disguised as mobile obituaries, and notices about eligibility for emergency holiday subsidies. Police explained that many of these messages lower the recipient's guard by front-loading expressions such as "urgent," "family," and "benefit," or by using logos and internet addresses (URL) similar to those of actual courier companies and public institutions.
If you click an unidentified L.I.N.C included in a text, a malicious app may be installed and personal information such as text and currency records may be leaked, and there is also a risk of leading to small payment charges or account transfers using that information. Police added that cases in which someone impersonates a family member or acquaintance and urgently asks for a transfer, saying "the mobile phone is broken," keep recurring, so extra caution is needed.
To prevent damage, police emphasized that people should follow basic rules such as not clicking URLs in suspicious texts, rechecking parcel or subsidy notices through official apps or websites, and always verifying the person's identity by phone if a transfer is requested in the name of an acquaintance.
If you clicked a malicious L.I.N.C or suspect damage, police advised reporting it via the Korean National Police Agency cybercrime reporting system (eCRM), 112, or Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) 118. If a malicious app installation is suspected, they suggested checking with the "Citizen Conan" app or visiting a financial company branch to request a blanket suspension of payments on accounts.
A police official said, "Cybercrimes that target periods when public activity increases, such as the Lunar New Year holiday, can make anyone a victim," adding, "Please immediately verify and report any text or transaction that seems even slightly suspicious."