Police Crack Down on Overseas Voice Phishing Call Centers in China, Philippines, and Other Locations

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police are launching a focused crackdown on voice phishing call centers operating with bases overseas, including in China.

The National Police Agency announced that from the 17th to June 25th, over a period of 130 days, it will conduct a strategic planned investigation targeting overseas-based voice phishing call centers by utilizing the international security cooperation network.

This crackdown will involve 25 international crime investigation teams from provincial police agencies nationwide, totaling 382 personnel. They will intensively investigate organized voice phishing crimes impersonating public and financial institutions, operating call centers in countries such as China and the Philippines, and conduct comprehensive investigations into domestic and international linked criminal networks by leveraging security cooperation networks with foreign police agencies such as Interpol. Additionally, they will crack down on organized national wealth outflow offenders who transfer voice phishing criminal proceeds overseas through mass-purchased forged bank accounts.

To eradicate voice phishing, the police are establishing a joint response system with telecommunications companies such as SK Telecom, and concurrently conducting international crime apprehension activities using the 'funding project' recently signed with Interpol. A police official stated, "Voice phishing crimes threatening the livelihood economy are becoming increasingly internationalized and sophisticated," adding, "We will create momentum to eradicate the steadily increasing voice phishing crimes."