Increase in Smishing and Internet Scams Expected Around Chuseok... What Are the Everyday Prevention Tips?

Police Crack Down on Cybercrime
Do Not Click URLs from Unknown Sources
Beware of Fake Safe Trading Sites

Provided by the National Police Agency.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police have issued a special warning ahead of the Chuseok holiday, anticipating an increase in various cybercrimes such as 'text message payment fraud (smishing)'.

On the 21st, the National Police Agency announced, "In order to proactively prevent the expected rise in cyber fraud crimes before the Chuseok holiday, related organizations and companies have agreed to join forces for a strong response."

The police first diagnosed that due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the overall living environment, including work processing methods and transaction types, has shifted to non-face-to-face interactions, increasing the risk of exposure to cybercrime. In particular, they predicted that various cyber fraud damages such as direct transaction fraud and shopping mall fraud could increase ahead of the Chuseok holiday. Smishing exploiting issues expected around the Chuseok holiday, such as gift package deliveries and the distribution of the second disaster relief fund, is also one of the major anticipated crimes.

Accordingly, on the 11th of this month, the National Police Agency held a meeting with major secondhand trading companies frequently used by the public, including the Korea Internet & Security Agency, Junggonara, Bungaejangter, and Danggeun Market, and promised to carry out preventive promotional activities to prevent fraud crimes disguised as sales of holiday gifts and accommodation vouchers. Additionally, they will operate a 'special crackdown period on four major cyber frauds including goods transaction fraud and intensive crackdown on crimes harming the low-income economy' until the end of December.

To prevent cyber fraud damages before and after the holiday, if a seller tries to induce conversation outside the secondhand trading site to another messenger during a transaction, fraud should be suspected first. Since there are cases where fake internet addresses (URLs) pretending to be safe transaction sites are sent during transactions, it is essential to verify whether the site is legitimate by using apps like 'CyberCop'. To prevent smishing, be cautious about clicking on internet addresses included in text messages from unknown sources, and strengthen security settings to prevent unverified apps from being installed on your mobile phone.

The police plan to post preventive promotional content, including these prevention guidelines and major cyber fraud methods, on police stations nationwide, related organizations and company websites, and social network services (SNS). A National Police Agency official urged, "For the prevention of cyber fraud, we ask the public to be vigilant about cyber fraud and to comply with daily prevention rules, making efforts together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.