Police Agency Promotes 'Comprehensive Measures to Eradicate Malicious Frauds Including Jeonse Scams'

Seodaemun-gu Police Agency, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 15th, the National Police Agency announced that it has designated seven major fraud crimes, including jeonse fraud, as "malignant fraud" and is promoting comprehensive measures to eradicate them. This follows the directive of the newly appointed Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun, who ordered the eradication of malignant fraud as a "national perceptible strategic task" immediately after taking office.

The seven major fraud crimes designated as malignant fraud by the police are ▲jeonse fraud ▲telecommunication financial fraud ▲virtual asset and similar deposit fraud ▲cyber fraud ▲insurance fraud ▲other organized fraud such as investment, business, and transactions ▲large-scale damage fraud. To eradicate these malignant frauds, the police plan to form and operate a task force (TF) led by the head of the National Investigation Headquarters and hold regular nationwide investigation command video conferences.

Crackdowns will also be significantly strengthened. The ongoing crackdown on voice phishing and other frauds will be extended from October to December, transitioning to year-round enforcement. Investigations will be concentrated nationwide, including newly initiated crackdowns on organized fraud and large-scale fraud. To support the actual recovery of damages for fraud victims, activities to trace criminal proceeds will also be intensified. From the early stages of investigation, efforts will focus on preventing additional damage and recovering losses, actively utilizing pre-indictment seizure and confiscation preservation systems.

Cooperation with related agencies will be strengthened as well. Issues for system improvement identified during investigations will be reported to the Financial Services Commission, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and others to ensure the public can tangibly feel the eradication of malignant fraud. Additionally, efforts will be made to establish a response system, including enacting related laws such as the Multi-Fraud Prevention Act. A unified reporting channel will be established within the National Police Agency by setting up the 'Government-wide Joint Telecommunication Financial Fraud Integrated Reporting and Response Center,' and preparations will begin to develop systems for prevention and blocking in advance.

Earlier, Commissioner Yoon ordered the eradication of malignant fraud as his first national perceptible promise after taking office. At that time, he defined "organized and malicious fraud as economic murder that destroys the life of a whole family" and promised to respond firmly. The National Police Agency stated, "With the determination to eradicate malignant fraud crimes, we will concentrate all investigative capabilities on promoting this comprehensive plan."