A Friend Asking for Your Culture Gift Certificate PIN? Beware of 'Messenger Phishing'

Demanding Google Gift Cards and Remote Control
Evolving Messenger Phishing Impersonating Acquaintances
Police and Convenience Stores Agree to Cooperate on Prevention

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Police Agency announced on the 23rd that it will collaborate with convenience store chains, which are major sales outlets for cultural gift certificates frequently exploited in new types of "messenger phishing" (text message financial fraud) crimes, to carry out prevention activities against messenger phishing.

Messenger phishing typically involves impersonating acquaintances on messengers like KakaoTalk to demand money. However, the police explained that recently, cases demanding gift certificates such as cultural gift certificates and Google gift cards, or personal information like copies of ID cards and credit card numbers, have been increasing. Additionally, a method has emerged where victims are induced to install remote control apps, allowing direct control of their phones to extort money.

In messenger phishing cases involving cultural gift certificates, after purchase, victims are asked to send the unique "PIN number" assigned to each gift certificate. The perpetrators deceive victims by saying, "If you send the PIN number after purchasing the gift certificate, I will send you the payment." For middle-aged and older adults unfamiliar with these online gift certificates, the method involves requesting card information and passwords, then using them to purchase gift certificates directly. Furthermore, for victims who are not adept at using smartphones, perpetrators induce them to install remote control apps like "TeamViewer" and then make online payments.

To prevent such damage, the police held a meeting last month with the Korea Convenience Store Industry Association and major convenience store companies including CU, GS25, Ministop, 7-Eleven, and C Space, to discuss focused prevention and publicity activities against messenger phishing crimes.

Based on this agreement, starting from the 27th of this month, the police and convenience store industry will broadcast warning and guidance screens and audio messages about messenger phishing prevention through POS (point of sale) terminals when customers purchase cultural gift certificates (50,000 KRW) or Google gift cards (100,000 KRW) above a certain amount at convenience stores.

Additionally, the National Police Agency will distribute educational videos on messenger phishing damage prevention to convenience store owners and employees nationwide and conduct crime prevention training, encouraging them to actively guide customers if suspicious activities related to such crimes are detected.

To prevent messenger phishing, the police explained that if children or acquaintances request money or personal information via messenger, one must verify by phone directly with the person. It is also essential to strengthen security settings to prevent unverified apps from being installed on mobile phones and to follow basic precautionary rules. A police official urged, "We ask all citizens to remain vigilant and adhere to daily prevention guidelines to help prevent messenger phishing."