30 Million Won Lost Returned... Busan Police's Voice Phishing Foiled Operation

A man in his 60s traveled from Tongyeong to Busan to meet a fake Financial Supervisory Service employee after trusting a fake investigator
Police prevented damage through location tracking and search

Mr. A was deceived by a voice phishing gang and withdrew 30 million won from his bank account. Thanks to the prompt response of the Busan police, the money was returned to its owner.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] At 6:04 PM on October 14, an urgent sound pierced through the Busan Police Agency 112 Comprehensive Situation Room.

"My husband withdrew 30 million won and went to Busan, but I think he is being targeted by voice phishing."

The trembling-voiced woman’s husband, Mr. A, in his 60s, had left his home in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, heading to Busan to meet a "Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) employee."

The "investigator" deceived Mr. A by saying, "The voice phishing gang might use your bank account for crimes, so it is safer to withdraw the money and entrust it to the FSS employee."

Trusting the "investigator" completely, Mr. A withdrew 30 million won from a bank in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, and headed to the agreed location in Busan.

The 112 situation room, after receiving the report, kept calling Mr. A’s cellphone but it was busy. The Busan police concluded it was a voice phishing case and began tracking his location.

Mr. A’s location was confirmed to be around Gayadong, Busanjin-gu. Three patrol cars and a detective team were dispatched to the scene. Then began the eagle-eyed search. About 30 minutes later, at around 6:32 PM, Mr. A was found at Dong-eui University subway station still on the phone, trying to meet the voice phishing gang whom he believed to be the "investigator" or "FSS employee."

The police officers from the Gaya Police Substation who arrived on the scene persistently persuaded Mr. A, who was trying to protect the 30 million won with the help of the "FSS employee."

If they had been 5 minutes late, it could have been a disaster. The phishing gang’s big score dream was shattered. The 30 million won that had left Mr. A’s home returned safely.

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