NHIS Warns "Beware of Smishing Texts About Refund Notices"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, President Kim Yong-ik) announced on the 2nd that special caution is required as text messages impersonating the NHIS are being sent to the public.

As 'smishing' crimes that steal personal information through mobile phone text messages are increasing, various types of messages impersonating the NHIS, such as 'Refund Confirmation Required,' 'Refund Period Application Guide,' and 'Refund Application Deadline,' have recently been sent.

The NHIS does not provide refund application guidance via text messages (including internet URL links) or personal emails, so it urged recipients to immediately delete suspicious messages with unclear senders and URLs that induce the installation of malicious apps.

Although the NHIS provides warnings about refund application scam messages on its website, since mid-March, requests from subscribers who received scam messages to confirm refunds at NHIS branches or customer centers have been continuously increasing.

The NHIS website (www.nhis.or.kr), The Geongangboheom (app), and Government24 (www.gov.kr, Unclaimed Refund Search) allow convenient and safe inquiry and application for various unpaid refunds. Citizens can check and apply for refunds through these services at any time.

An NHIS official stated, "Since last month, we have been sending 37 types of notices as Naver electronic documents in collaboration with Naver, an authorized electronic document intermediary," adding, "In the future, various notices such as insurance premium refund applications will be converted to mobile electronic documents and sent. By clicking links within the electronic documents, users will be connected to application services to safely apply for refunds."

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