Phishing Alert in Hampyeong: Impersonator Requests 'Fence Installation Project' as Public Official

Forgery of official documents impersonating Hampyeong County.

A phishing crime involving an individual impersonating a county office official has occurred in Hampyeong County, South Jeolla Province, prompting warnings for residents and local businesses to exercise caution.

According to Hampyeong County on June 26, an unidentified man, referred to as Mr. A, approached a local construction contractor, Mr. B, on June 24 and requested a 'fence installation project.' During this process, Mr. A sent a photo of a business card under the name of the 'Director of General Affairs, Hampyeong County' via text message and pretended to be a public official.

When Mr. B asked about the location and scale of the project, Mr. A repeatedly gave vague answers such as "Let's meet in person to discuss the details," which raised suspicion. Mr. B, finding this suspicious, reported the incident to Hampyeong Police, leading to the launch of an investigation.

Immediately after receiving the report, the county sent warning messages to local businesses and relevant public officials to prevent the spread of similar crimes, and quickly informed residents of the situation, taking proactive measures.

Additionally, there has recently been a phishing attempt involving the forgery of official documents to demand goods from an agricultural supply store, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance. The agricultural supply store, noticing discrepancies from official county documents, inquired with the county office and confirmed that the document was a forgery.

Kwon Chunseok, Chief of Hampyeong Police Station, stated, "The method of meticulously forging even a public official's business card is highly sophisticated. Any calls from unfamiliar numbers must be verified with the relevant institution," and added, "We will mobilize all available police resources and respond actively to prevent further damage."

Lee Sangik, Governor of Hampyeong County, said, "Crimes that deceive residents by impersonating public officials are serious offenses that cannot be overlooked," and emphasized, "We will further strengthen county-level measures and responses to prevent recurrence and protect residents." He further stressed, "If anyone receives requests for money or goods by phone or text, or encounters cases of impersonation of public officials, they should immediately report it to the local police station or county office."

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