Phishing Blocked in One Go... Integrated Reporting and Response Center Handles 150,000 Crimes

200 Days Since the Launch of the Integrated Reporting and Response Center for Electronic Communication Financial Fraud
Handling Over 1,000 Reports, Tips, and Consultations Daily on Average

“I am so nervous and scared right now...”
The phone at the Police Agency’s ‘Integrated Reporting and Response Center for Telecommunication Financial Fraud (hereafter, the Center)’ rang. The counselor who answered the call realized that the reporter had been deceived by a phishing scammer and had withdrawn 20 million won, which was being held. The counselor reassured the frightened reporter, informed them of immediate actions to take, and coordinated with 112 to dispatch police officers to the scene. Thanks to the counselor’s swift and accurate response, the precious money that was almost handed over to the scammer was saved.

On the 13th at 2 p.m., the Police Agency held the ‘Integrated Reporting and Response Center for Telecommunication Financial Fraud Performance Report Meeting’ with Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun and representatives from the Financial Supervisory Service, Korea Internet & Security Agency, SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus, and Samsung Electronics in attendance.

This event was organized to review the Center’s achievements since its official operation began over 200 days ago and to encourage continued cooperation from partner institutions and companies.

Previously, victims of telecommunication financial fraud (phishing) had to report crimes to 112, phone numbers used in crimes to 118, and account reports to 1332 separately. To resolve this inconvenience and establish an integrated government-wide response system, the ‘Government-wide Task Force for Voice Phishing Response’ under the Office for Government Policy Coordination led the establishment of the Center within the Police Agency.

The Center, which officially started operations on October 4 last year, handles various reports and consultations related to phishing, including reports made just before victimization. Over seven months until April this year, it processed more than 150,000 cases, averaging over 1,000 reports, tips, and consultations daily.

The National Police Agency held the "Integrated Reporting and Response Center for Telecommunications Financial Fraud Performance Report Meeting" at 2 p.m. on the 13th.
[Photo by National Police Agency]

The Center employs counselors from the Financial Supervisory Service and Korea Internet & Security Agency, providing professional and integrated consultations. Additionally, employees from SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus (hereafter, the three telecom companies) work jointly to promptly handle services such as blocking small payments and blocking number spoofing text messages. Direct phone lines are also connected with financial institutions to implement measures like account suspension to prevent and minimize further damage.

The Center utilizes data received from the public to identify the latest trends and variants of fraud methods and, with cooperation from the three telecom companies, issues public alerts quarterly. Since the end of April this year, it has sent messages to all subscribers warning about smishing scams impersonating garbage disposal and traffic complaints, which have recently increased.

Furthermore, the Center has requested suspension of about 15,000 reported phone numbers to block criminal tools and provides data to investigative agencies for identifying additional offenses or applying for warrants.

Administrative Officer Son Young-hee of the Police Agency, who received an award for outstanding counseling, recalled receiving a letter in March saying, “Thank you for counseling as if you were helping right next to me.” Son said, “I remember a case where we prevented damage through counseling just before the victim was about to transfer money,” and added, “The advantage of the Center is that various institutions work together, allowing us to identify and improve each other’s shortcomings.”

Yang Heon-seok, a specialist at the Financial Supervisory Service who received a certificate of appreciation, explained, “A strength of the Center is that it can provide integrated handling, such as guiding on debt extinction, which is the Financial Supervisory Service’s responsibility, without additional calls.”

Meanwhile, partner institutions and companies are actively participating in projects promoted by the Center. Samsung Electronics and the Korea Internet & Security Agency plan to jointly develop a ‘Simple Reporting System’ with the Police Agency that adds a phishing reporting function similar to the spam report feature currently installed on smartphones.

Phishing messages and calls collected through simple reporting will be analyzed and temporarily blocked by the three telecom companies upon request. Citizens will be able to easily report suspected phishing messages and calls with a single button, and numbers used in crimes will be swiftly blocked, greatly reducing damage.

Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun said, “Hearing the sincere gratitude from a citizen who was on the verge of victimization reminded me of the reason for establishing the Center,” and emphasized, “Malicious fraud, including phishing, is ‘economic murder,’ so not only the police but also both public and private sectors must unite to respond.”