Police on the 23rd issued an "emergency phishing advisory," saying attempts at phishing (fraud) crimes that exploit public anxiety over the recent Middle East situation have been occurring one after another.
The three main phishing scenarios reported to the Korean National Police Agency's integrated response unit for voice phishing and online financial fraud are: ▲ luring victims into investment signal chatrooms under the pretense of "war beneficiary stocks" ▲ smishing under the pretense of flight cancellations and rebookings ▲ attempts at romance scams (dating pretense fraud) that exploit anxiety.
There were many cases of recommending so-called war beneficiary stocks and making people join investment signal chatrooms. Police said this is a classic fraud method in which scammers say "if you fail to achieve investment profits, we promise a principal refund and compensation for losses," then induce sign-ups to fake exchanges and the like before stealing only the investment funds.
There were also cases of sending text messages that exploited the controlled airspace situation in the Middle East, saying, "Your flight has been canceled due to the Middle East situation. Please access for rebooking and refunds." If recipients clicked the internet link attached to the message, it connected them to fake airline or travel agency sites, prompting them to enter personal information, including credit card details. It is a method to steal personal information.
In addition, there were cases of romance scams in which scammers posed as doctors or soldiers in the Middle East to approach victims and ask for money transfers, and bait texts that said they would distribute for free a book to understand and prepare for the principles of the Middle East situation and world affairs, while demanding personal information.
Police also warned of possible phishing that induces access to fake donation sites by impersonating international relief organizations, or exploits emergency loans for small business owners and fuel cost refund support.
Police are blocking the phone numbers and internet addresses used in the crimes to prevent attempts that exploit the Middle East situation from leading to actual damage. Police also urged, "If voice phishing is suspected, please report it immediately to 1394 or 112."