New Type of Voice Phishing Deceives Self-Employed by Using Company Phone Numbers ... Police Launch Investigation

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] A voice phishing incident occurred in which the representative phone number of an edible oil manufacturer was spoofed to promise low-price sales and request advance payment, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

On the 22nd, the Gangseo Police Station in Busan announced that they had started an investigation into a voice phishing case that occurred at the end of October, in which advance payment was demanded under the pretext of supplying edible oil at a low price.

According to the police, Mr. A, a man in his 60s who runs a restaurant in Gangseo-gu, contacted the representative number of an edible oil sales company in Busan together with his acquaintance Mr. B to purchase edible oil.

They conveyed their intention to purchase edible oil to Mr. C, who claimed to be the sales manager, and Mr. C said that there was edible oil available at a low price due to issues with the supplier.

Mr. C requested an advance payment of part of the amount to coordinate with the edible oil supplier, and Mr. A and Mr. B paid 90 million won in advance out of the total transaction amount of 140 million won.

After the payment, they tried to contact Mr. C to receive the edible oil, but he was unreachable, and when they called the company again, they were told that Mr. C was not an employee of the company.

It was revealed that Mr. C had forged the company's business registration certificate and business cards, and even prepared product samples.

The company stated, "Just before the incident occurred, we received a call from a telecommunications company employee requesting to change the extension number due to a problem, so we temporarily changed it," adding, "We noticed something was wrong three days later and restored it to the original."

A police official said, "We will identify the suspect after investigating the circumstances of the case," and added, "We cannot disclose detailed information."

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