Chungnam Office of Education Requests Police Investigation into Impersonation and Money Demands

Private Companies Suffer Losses from Calls Pretending to Be Education Office Orders
Voice Phishing-Like Tactics... "Impersonation Calls Should Be Reported Immediately"

The Chungnam Office of Education announced on July 29 that there was a recent incident in which an individual impersonating an education office employee called private companies in the province and demanded money.

The impersonator approached the companies under the pretense of an education office-commissioned project and requested that payment for goods be deposited into a specific account.

On July 25, the Office of Education requested a police investigation into the incident and sent official documents to related organizations, including the Public Procurement Service and education offices in cities and provinces nationwide, asking for joint action.

In addition, the Office of Education is widely informing the public about the incident by distributing press releases, using official social media channels, and sending warning text messages about impersonation to related companies in the province.

The Office of Education stated, "If companies or schools in the province receive a request for an order or contract in the name of the Office of Education, please make sure to verify its authenticity through official contact information," and added, "If you discover any suspicious cases, please report them immediately to the Office of Education or the police."

An official from the Office of Education said, "This is a serious matter in which someone attempted to inflict financial damage on private companies by impersonating a public institution," and emphasized, "We have requested a thorough investigation, considering the possibility that this could be an organized crime similar to voice phishing."