Two Years Since the Launch of the Voice Phishing Joint Task Force... 628 People Booked as a Result

Damage Amount Decreased by 42% Compared to Last Year
Number of Crimes Reduced by 39% Since Inception
Possibility of Damage Amount Increasing Again

The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office Voice Phishing Crime Government Joint Investigation Unit has achieved the result of indicting 628 voice phishing suspects and arresting a total of 201 people within two years of its launch. Based on the achievements from joint investigations with related agencies, the unit plans to extend its activity period.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 31st, the unit announced that since its launch, it has indicted 628 people and arrested 201 individuals, including 18 masterminds both domestic and overseas.

Since the unit's establishment, the amount of damage caused by voice phishing has also significantly decreased. In 2021, before the unit was launched, the damage amount was 774.4 billion KRW, but last year it dropped to 447.2 billion KRW, a decrease of about 42%. The number of criminal cases also fell from 30,982 in 2021 to 18,902 last year, a 39% reduction.

However, the prosecution expects the damage amount to increase this year due to the sophistication of criminal methods. The damage amount recorded from January to June this year is 324.2 billion KRW.

Representative investigation cases of the unit include ▲the arrest of relay device distribution organization members ▲the arrest of organizations supplying fake bank accounts and SIM cards.

In March, the unit uncovered three organizations distributing relay devices for the purpose of manipulating voice phishing caller numbers, arresting 53 members among them. They also uncovered eight organizations supplying fake bank accounts and SIM cards, arresting 44 members including seven masterminds.

The unit believes that consolidating specialized government capabilities to respond to voice phishing crimes has led to these investigative achievements and has decided to extend the unit's activity period. When the unit was launched in 2022, it was planned to operate for one year but was extended by one year last year.

Additionally,

the unit will focus on responding intensively by establishing a dedicated investigation team to uncover specialized criminal organizations.

A unit official stated, "We plan to strengthen cooperation with related agencies in line with the sophistication of criminal methods," adding, "We will also carry out activities to prevent voice phishing, such as system improvements, and make every effort to eradicate non-face-to-face fraud crimes."

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