"Your Child Has Been Kidnapped": Voice Phishing Crime Alert

1,532 Cases Reported in Jeonnam Over the Past Three Years
Mainly Victims in Their 50s and 60s... Also Includes Those in Their 20s or Younger
Suspicious Calls Should Be Reported to Police Immediately

Recently, it has been analyzed that voice phishing crimes are rampant in the Jeonnam region. If you receive a suspicious or uncertain phone call, it is advised to immediately report it to the police or relevant authorities.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 11th, there have been a total of 1,532 cases of financial fraud crimes, including voice phishing, in the Jeonnam area over the past three years (from 2022 to 2024).

By age group, those in their 50s accounted for the highest proportion at 27.8%, followed by those aged 60 and above at 23.1%, and those in their 20s or younger at 25.3%. It was found that these crimes occurred more frequently among groups with relatively weaker response capabilities.

Despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of voice phishing, the crime persists due to increasingly diverse and sophisticated methods. For example, in cases of "fake card delivery agency impersonation," the criminal disguises themselves as a card delivery agent, calls the victim, delivers a counterfeit physical card in person, and then induces the victim to call a scammer posing as the card company's customer service center. The victim is then manipulated into transferring funds.

To prevent such voice phishing damage and create a safer financial transaction environment, Jeonnam Province is currently promoting "important precautions consumers must know" on provincial and municipal websites, based on analysis of actual cases.

In addition, the province plans to actively conduct voice phishing prevention education and damage prevention campaigns for age groups with relatively weak response capabilities, such as the elderly, in collaboration with local governments, consumer organizations, and the Financial Welfare Counseling Center.

Kim Juncheol, Director of the Jeonnam Provincial Job and Economy Division, emphasized, "If you receive a call from an unknown number and are asked for financial information, do not respond immediately. Ask people around you, and if you become a victim, report it to the police or the Financial Supervisory Service and request a suspension of payment on your account."