Repeated Police Impersonation Voice Phishing Incidents in Gwangju... Over 170 Million Won in Damages

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] In Gwangju, a series of theft-type voice phishing incidents occurred, including one where a man was deceived by an organization impersonating the police and lost 160 million won, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

On the 16th, the Gwangju Nambu Police Station announced that it received a report on the 15th at around 12:30 PM that a man in his 70s, Mr. A, had 10.6 million won in cash stolen from the master bedroom of his home in Nam-gu, Gwangju.

Mr. A was reportedly deceived by a phone fraud group impersonating the police, who told him that his personal information had been leaked, instructing him to withdraw money and keep it at home, and that he needed to create a new ID card.

While Mr. A left the house key at a location designated by the fraudsters and went to make the new ID card, the cash disappeared.

Earlier, at around 11 AM on the 14th, a man in his late 50s, Mr. B, reported to the police that someone had taken 160 million won in cash stored in his apartment mailbox.

Mr. B was also found to have fallen victim to a similar scam by a phone fraud group impersonating the police.

The police believe that these victims were deceived by a voice phishing organization and are currently securing and analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage installed in the apartments and other locations.