Police Find Three Victims in Their 60s Following Voice Phishing Tip, Prevent 150 Million Won in Losses

[Financial News] Acting on tips about voice phishing, police found victims across the country and prevented financial losses of about 150 million won.
According to police on the 13th, Seoul’s Gwanak Police Station found and took protective measures for three people in their 60s in South Gyeongsang, South Chungcheong and Gangwon who had been deceived by voice-phishing groups impersonating prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Office or Financial Supervisory Service employees and were at risk of handing over more money.
On the 5th, Gwanak Police Station’s phishing crime investigation team received a related tip and verified the victims’ personal information. After determining that the crimes spanned several regions, the team coordinated with Gwanak Police Station’s 112 General Situation Room and requested cooperation from the 112 situation rooms of three provincial and metropolitan police agencies with jurisdiction, as well as four local police stations.
Following instructions from members of the voice-phishing groups, the victims concealed their circumstances or appeared unable to believe police officers’ explanations that they were being scammed. Some also refused to cooperate, including by not opening the door even when officers visited their homes.
However, through on-site measures including persistent persuasion and forcibly opening the victims’ homes, police met with them in person, confirmed their situation and prevented them from handing over more money.
Police also removed malicious applications and remote-control apps installed on the victims’ phones, and froze their accounts through financial institution hotlines.
Gwanak Police Station’s phishing crime investigation team said it had helped 20 people through these efforts from April 1 to the present and prevented about 1 billion won in voice-phishing losses.
[email protected] Park Sung-hyun Reporter