"A Gangster Demanded 9 Million Won"... Ichon Station Staff Prevents Phone Financial Fraud with Quick Thinking

Around 7 PM on the 7th, a passenger urgently came to Ichon Station Customer Safety Office with a note... The note said, "My son was stabbed and injured, a gangster is with him, bring money to the station exit"... Ichon Station staff sensed something suspicious, called 112, and calmed the passenger... The son was safe at home... "Momentarily shocked but stayed calm, luckily protected customer’s money... Subway must not be used as a voice phishing stage"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] It has been revealed that a subway station employee calmed down a passenger who received a suspicious call saying, "My son is hurt, there is a gangster nearby, bring money to the subway station exit," reported it to the police, and uncovered that it was a phone financial fraud (voice phishing), preventing further damage.

According to Seoul Metro, at around 7:25 p.m. on the 7th, a male passenger in his 50s urgently came to the Customer Safety Office at Ichon Station on Line 4, showing a note and asking for help. The note read, "I spoke with my son on the phone, he was stabbed with a knife and is with a gangster, bring 9 million won to exits 3 or 4 of Sadang Station."

Deputy Station Manager Jeong Byeong-cheol, who was on duty at the time, sensed something suspicious and asked the passenger not to hang up the phone while checking the caller ID. Although the caller ID showed the passenger’s son’s name, the number started with 006, an unusual number.

Suspecting phone financial fraud, Deputy Manager Jeong continued the phone conversation with the passenger while communicating through written notes to calm him down, and immediately reported the incident to the police by calling 112.

When the passenger’s call was disconnected while the police were on their way, Deputy Manager Jeong advised the passenger to try calling his son just in case. Fortunately, the passenger was able to connect with his son, who replied that he was safe at home without any injuries.

It was the moment it was confirmed that the money demand was a phone financial fraud targeting the passenger.

The staff working with Deputy Manager Jeong handed the passenger over to the arriving police and helped him return home safely.

Deputy Manager Jeong said, “When the passenger rushed in showing the note, I was momentarily startled, but as I listened and thought about it, many suspicious points made me calmly judge the situation, and I’m glad I could protect the passenger’s valuable money. The subway, including lockers, is never a place to exchange money, so if you receive a call asking you to bring money to the subway, suspect phone financial fraud and report it to the police or station staff.”

The corporation is strengthening cooperation with the police and subway security guards through joint patrols within stations to prevent crimes in the subway, and is also working on installing safe mirrors and operating Safe Zones to prevent illegal filming.

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