Handling voice phishing

Public bodies never ask for money by phone. Remember that one sentence.

Typical scripts

• "This is the prosecutor's office. Your account has been used in a crime."
• "This is immigration. There's a problem with your status and you must pay a fine."
• "This is the Financial Supervisory Service. You need to move your funds to a safe account."
• "It's your son/daughter — my phone broke so I'm calling from another number."
• "Your parcel was returned. Click the link to check."

There is no such thing as a "safe account".

What to do

1. Hang up first. Don't keep the conversation going.
2. Don't save their number — call the official number yourself to check.
   • Immigration 1345 / police 112 / financial 1332
3. Never give out personal details.
4. Don't click links or install apps. Remote-control apps are especially dangerous.
5. If someone claims to be family, call them on the number you already know.

If you have already lost money

1. Report to 112 immediately.
2. Call your bank's call centre and request a payment stop.
3. Consult 1332 (Financial Supervisory Service).
4. Delete any installed app from your phone, and reset it if necessary.
5. Suspend your accounts and cards and change your passwords.

Where to go

• 112 police (report at once)
• 1332 Financial Supervisory Service
• 1345 to verify immigration matters
• Your bank's call centre (payment stop)
• 118 personal data breaches

Questions people ask

The number looks like a real government number. Numbers can be spoofed. Always hang up and call back yourself.

My Korean isn't good and I'm frightened. If you can't follow, just hang up. You can verify the facts later with 1345.

They said to keep it secret because of an investigation. That is the heart of the scam. Real investigators never ask that. Tell family or someone nearby straight away.

I installed the app. Disconnect from the internet and delete it immediately, then contact 112 and your bank.

Take care

"Move your money to a safe account" is 100% a scam. The government never asks you to move money to a personal account. Refuse any request to install a remote-control app. Lending your bankbook or debit card can lead to your own prosecution.

Related

scam-types · online-scam · personal-info-protection · bank-account · crime-victim-support

Source

Financial Supervisory Service www.fss.or.kr / As of 2026-08