Financial Supervisory Service Operates Intensive Publicity Period to Prevent Face-to-Face Deceptive Voice Phishing

Designated Intensive Publicity Period from the 19th to the 30th to Prevent In-Person Deceptive Voice Phishing

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Hwajeong] As 'face-to-face extortion type' voice phishing, where perpetrators meet victims in person to steal cash, has surged recently, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is conducting a joint campaign with all financial sectors to prevent such damage.

On the 18th, the FSS announced that the period from the 19th to the 30th has been designated as an intensive publicity period to prevent face-to-face extortion type voice phishing.

Face-to-face extortion type voice phishing has been rapidly increasing recently. The proportion of face-to-face extortion cases among all voice phishing damage cases rose from 8.6% (3,244 cases) in 1029 to 73.4% (22,752 cases) last year.

During the intensive publicity period, the FSS plans to maximize public awareness by utilizing all available channels both online and offline. Offline, a large volume of promotional materials will be produced and distributed to branches of financial companies to focus on raising awareness of fraud methods (impersonating government agencies, impersonating financial companies) and prevention measures. To this end, 23,000 promotional posters will be displayed inside financial company branches, and branch staff wearing shoulder sashes with cautionary messages will distribute 754,000 leaflets to visiting customers.

Online, internet pop-up windows aimed at preventing face-to-face extortion type damage will be displayed on financial companies’ websites to raise vigilance. During the intensive publicity period, cautionary phrases such as "If a government agency or financial company employee demands cash delivery, it is 100% voice phishing" will be placed at the top of each financial company and association website. Additionally, promotional videos jointly produced by the entire financial sector about face-to-face extortion will be shown on financial companies’ YouTube channels and on screens inside branches.

An FSS official stated, "We urge financial consumers to maintain vigilance that voice phishing can happen to anyone at any time and to remember that government agencies or financial companies never request cash delivery or cash custody via phone calls or text messages under any circumstances."

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