"Suspicious" Taxi Drivers and Shop Owners... Voice Phishing Criminals Caught Through Citizen Reports

Passenger Suddenly Changes Destination and Reports Incident
Victim Depositing Cash Bundles at ATM Spotted and Reported
Suspicion Arises as Large Cash Loaded Behind Wheelchair and Moved

Cases of voice phishing cash collectors being caught continue thanks to the keen eyes of citizens.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Voice phishing cash collectors were consecutively caught by the police thanks to citizen reports.

The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency announced on the 19th that they arrested two voice phishing cash collectors in Jeonju and Jeongeup as caught in the act, based on citizen reports.

According to the police, around 6 p.m. the previous day, taxi driver Mr. A, who was operating a taxi with passengers, became suspicious when the passenger suddenly changed the destination from Jeonju to Jeongeup.

Afterward, Mr. A witnessed the passenger, a middle-aged man, receiving cash from another man. Suspecting voice phishing, he immediately reported it to 112. The police who responded to the report arrested the man at the scene, who was a cash collector for the voice phishing organization, and seized approximately 15.4 million KRW in damages from him.

Earlier, around 6:30 p.m. on the 17th, citizen Mr. B, passing by an ATM branch in Seosin-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, noticed a woman depositing cash bundles next to the ATM and felt something was suspicious, so he reported it to 112.

Police confirmed that the woman was depositing 1 million KRW out of 10 million KRW she had received from a voice phishing victim. The police arrested her, seized the remaining 9 million KRW in damages, and are investigating the circumstances of the crime and any additional offenses.

Previously, in July, a store owner who witnessed a voice phishing cash procurement scene suspected voice phishing and immediately reported it to the police, contributing to an arrest. On July 15th, near Gonjiam Terminal in Gwangju City, Mr. C saw a victim carrying a large amount of cash on an electric wheelchair and suspected voice phishing, so he visited the Gonjiam Police Substation about 200 meters away to report it.

At that moment, a cash collector from the voice phishing organization appeared and received an envelope of money from the victim. After reporting, Mr. C returned and witnessed the scene, telling the responding police, "I think the person wearing that hat took the money." Based on this, the police arrested the cash collector who was fleeing after collecting money from the victim and seized 15 million KRW in cash.

Accordingly, the Gwangju Police Station in Gyeonggi selected Mr. C as a 'Phishing Guardian.' The Phishing Guardian program is an initiative promoted by the Southern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency to select citizens who help prevent voice phishing damage and assist in arresting criminals, conveying the message that anyone can prevent crime damage to themselves and their neighbors by paying attention.

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