Hapcheon-gun Promotes Education and Publicity Activities to Prevent Damage from 'Tteotdabang' Scams

Scam Vendors Targeting Seniors
Stay Safe by Preventing Damage

Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is strengthening education and promotional activities to prevent damage caused by illegal door-to-door sales, known as ‘Tteotdabang (promotional booths),’ targeting information-vulnerable groups such as the elderly.

‘Tteotdabang’ is a form of illegal door-to-door sales that lures elderly people with free performances or free gifts and causes economic and psychological harm by selling low-priced products at high prices.

Recently, a local government approached women aged 60 and over with phrases like ‘cosmetics and wet wipes giveaway,’ deceiving victims by claiming to be university professors or CEOs of famous pharmaceutical companies, selling products priced at 40,000 KRW for 980,000 KRW, resulting in over 1,700 victims and damages amounting to 2.3 billion KRW.

As such, ‘Tteotdabang’ is characterized by strangers luring elderly people with free gifts, building trust through familiarity, and then selling cheap goods at high prices through false and exaggerated advertising.

During the off-season for farming, when elderly people spend more time at home and Tteotdabang activities become more active, proactive measures to prevent damage are necessary, increasing the importance of education and promotion.

Since October this year, the county has intensively conducted consumer damage prevention education targeting elderly residents. On October 22, consumer education was provided to about 130 people in connection with the senior job project at the Culture and Arts Center, and an additional 580 elderly people were educated by October 24.

From November 26 to 28, the county toured nine town and township senior centers, including Daebyeong-myeon and Yongju-myeon, providing Tteotdabang damage prevention guidelines to about 160 elderly people.

To maximize promotional effects, the county produced promotional materials and posters related to Tteotdabang damage prevention and distributed them as promotional materials during education and meetings targeting the elderly. Posters were also distributed to all town and township senior centers, Hapcheon Senior Club, and the Korean Senior Citizens Association Hapcheon Branch.

In addition, a crackdown team has been formed to regularly monitor false and exaggerated advertising by door-to-door sales businesses such as Tteotdabang, and to promptly coordinate with the Consumer Counseling Center and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety upon receiving reports or detecting illegal business activities.

From 2025, the scope of education will be expanded to include senior centers in 17 towns and townships and users of social welfare centers, and activities to protect the consumer rights of the elderly will be further strengthened through continuous promotion.

A Hapcheon-gun official stated, “Since prevention is the best measure against Tteotdabang damage, the county will do its best to reduce harm to the elderly through continuous education and promotion,” and urged, “Before purchasing products or signing contracts, consult with family or acquaintances, and if unopened, refunds are possible within 14 days. If any suspicious cases occur, please report immediately to the Consumer Counseling Center, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, or Hapcheon-gun Job and Economy Division.”