"Never Give Money, Son Is Healthy" ... Persistent Persuasion by Probationary Police Officer Protects Elderly Couple's Money

A bundle of cash withdrawn after falling victim to voice phishing. [Image source=Busan Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] “No! My second son living in Seoul is sick, I need to send money quickly.”

A rookie police officer in his 20s, who was just appointed last month and is learning the job as a probationary officer, broke into a sweat persuading an elderly person over the phone. The elderly person was heading to Daeyeon-dong by taxi to deliver 9 million won, which had been saved as living expenses, to someone, claiming it was to save their ‘sick son.’

After persistent persuasion by this ‘probationary police officer,’ the man in his 70s turned the car around, and the elderly couple protected their precious assets.

According to the Dongnae Police Station in Busan, at around 10:48 a.m. on the 7th, an elderly woman reported to the police station in an agitated state.

The woman in her 70s said her husband seemed to have fallen victim to voice phishing, and the police officer who received the report instinctively picked up the phone and rushed to her location.

Busan Bank had already taken measures to freeze the account, but the problem was that the elderly person had already withdrawn the money and left somewhere.

Police Officer Choi Woo-young of Naeseong Police Substation tried calling the husband of the reporter for about 20 minutes to find him and eventually succeeded in connecting.

The husband was initially irritated and unwilling to listen. Officer Choi persistently persuaded him not to hand over the money and repeatedly asked him to turn the taxi back home immediately. He also let him hear his wife’s voice beside him and explained that he was being used in a crime.

Eventually, about an hour after the report, the couple’s 9 million won returned to their hands, not to the voice phishing collectors. The reporter and her family repeatedly thanked Officer Choi.

Officer Choi said, “Although it was difficult to connect the call, the father was very startled and agitated when he heard that his son was sick. I clearly explained that there was nothing wrong with his son’s health and persuaded him not to meet anyone and to take a taxi home.”

Officer Choi Woo-young, who prevented the voice phishing, is a 27-year-old probationary police officer appointed in January of this year.

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