Forged Business Cards and Official Documents Used to Pressure for "Proxy Purchases"
Reporting Center to Verify Impersonation and Actual Contracts
Guidance Provided for Each Type of Scam
Support for Follow-Up Measures Such as Freezing Accounts
As scams involving impersonation of public officials using counterfeit business cards and other means have surged, Seoul City has begun operating a dedicated reporting center.
On December 26, Seoul City announced that, due to the ongoing scams targeting small and medium-sized business owners by individuals impersonating public officials, it has established a "Reporting Center for Victims of Public Official Impersonation Scams" within the Seoul Fair Trade Center and will actively respond to such incidents. Through the operation of the reporting center, the city plans to quickly verify whether someone is impersonating a public official and whether an actual contract exists, as well as provide guidance on how to respond to different types of scams. If a scam is confirmed, the city will cooperate with the National Police Agency’s Integrated Response Team for Telecommunications and Financial Fraud to support follow-up measures such as freezing accounts and requesting investigations.
The recently identified scam methods include forging business cards or official documents that closely resemble those actually used by Seoul City. Scammers disguise themselves as having placed real orders and then induce advance payments under the pretense of "proxy delivery" or "emergency purchase." There have been cases where impersonators presented counterfeit business cards, claimed to be employees of a specific Seoul City department, made group reservation inquiries at restaurants, and then demanded payment for the proxy purchase of expensive wine. In some instances, scammers approached victims over several days, mimicked actual administrative procedures, or pressured victims by citing urgent reasons such as an imminent audit, thereby forcing them to make quick decisions.
The city is urging small and medium-sized business owners to follow prevention guidelines that can be implemented immediately on site and to take proactive action. If contacted by someone claiming to be a public official, the extension number on the business card should be verified through the Seoul City website. If there is any suspicion regarding official documents or the sender, it is necessary to directly contact the relevant department or the Seoul Fair Trade Consultation Center to confirm authenticity. In addition, since public institutions, including Seoul City, never request advance payments or proxy purchases from private entities, it is crucial to "never make advance payments under any circumstances."
Kim Myungseon, Director of the Fair Economy Division, stated, "Public official impersonation scams are resulting in real damages for small business owners, so it is more important than ever to verify facts quickly and take preventive action," adding, "Seoul City officials will never request proxy purchases or advance payments under any circumstances, so if you feel even slightly suspicious, do not respond to the request and contact the Seoul City reporting center."
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