"Beware of Delivery and Support Fund Text Message URLs" Lunar New Year Scam Alert

Ministry of Science and ICT, National Police Agency, and Financial Authorities Unite
"87% of Smishing Crimes Last Year Involved Parcel Delivery Impersonation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] "Be cautious of texts about delivery and COVID-19 small business support funds."

The Ministry of Science and ICT, Financial Services Commission, National Police Agency, Financial Supervisory Service, and Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) urged users on the 20th to be cautious ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, warning of smishing and voice phishing crimes impersonating delivery notifications or COVID-19 support fund announcements.

First, users need to be especially careful about smishing related to deliveries. Among the approximately 202,000 smishing reports and blocks last year, about 175,000 cases (87%) involved delivery-related smishing exploiting periods like the Lunar New Year when many packages are sent and received.

Smishing impersonating government support programs for small businesses due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic is also expected to increase. The government does not accept applications for various support funds via phone calls or text messages, nor does it request personal information such as ID cards. Therefore, in suspicious cases, users should verify directly with government agencies. It is also advisable to double-check messages from acquaintances.

If a user accidentally clicks on the URL in a smishing text, a malicious application (app) may be installed on their smartphone, potentially leading to financial damage such as voice phishing scams exploiting leaked personal information through the malicious app.

To prevent such fraud, users should ▲delete messages immediately without clicking on URLs or phone numbers ▲never enter or disclose ID, personal, or financial information if requested ▲install antivirus programs on smartphones, keep them updated, maintain real-time monitoring, and enable small payment blocking features ▲and request malware checks via the 118 report or the 'My PC Care' service.

Before the Lunar New Year, the government plans to focus on sending warning texts about smishing and voice phishing, monitoring smishing, and strengthening cybercrime crackdowns through inter-agency cooperation. The Ministry of Science and ICT and KISA will conduct 24-hour monitoring during the holiday, analyze reported smishing information, and block sites distributing malicious apps. They will also cooperate with the three major telecom companies to sequentially send warning texts under the telecom companies' names.

The Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service will collaborate with financial sectors during the holiday period to conduct preventive publicity, warning customers about scam texts impersonating COVID-19-related compensation or special recovery loans. The National Police Agency will provide prevention guidelines and damage alerts through its website and the mobile app 'CyberCop' and strengthen crackdowns to prevent voice phishing and smishing.

If exposed to cybercrime damage, users can report through the Cybercrime Reporting System (ECRM). Suspected smishing victims should report to the Korea Internet & Security Agency (118), and voice phishing victims should immediately report to the relevant financial institution's call center, the National Police Agency (112), or the Financial Supervisory Service (1332) and request account suspension.