If You Suspect Fraud,
Report Immediately to the Police or Financial Supervisory Service
As a series of voice phishing incidents impersonating public officials or government offices have recently occurred in Sunchang County, North Jeolla Province, the county has urged residents to exercise particular caution.
According to the county on September 5, recently, impersonators have been forging the names and identification cards of public officials to approach victims via phone calls or text messages. They then commit crimes by signing purchase contracts or demanding advance payments.
During this process, there have been cases where victims are made to deliver high-value goods or suffer financial losses.
The county especially emphasized that even if someone approaches by mentioning the name of a government agency or a public official in a text message or phone call, it is not possible to verify authenticity with only a business card or a photo of an official ID. Therefore, to prevent damage, it is essential to contact the relevant agency directly by phone to confirm the facts.
A county official stated, "The county never requests advance payments under any circumstances when entering into contracts," adding, "Requests for bulk purchases, referrals to specific suppliers, or demands for advance payments are highly likely to be impersonation crimes, so you should immediately be suspicious and verify the situation."
If you suspect you have been victimized, you should promptly report it to 112 (police) or 1332 (Financial Supervisory Service) to prevent further damage.
Meanwhile, the county is actively raising awareness among residents through village broadcasts, meetings with village leaders, and distributing leaflets. The county also plans to continuously strengthen publicity and guidance to prevent residents from becoming victims.
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