25 Million Won Lost in Gyeongsangnam-do Government Impersonation Scam ... Gyeongsangnam-do Urges Heightened Caution

Amid a recent nationwide surge in scam cases involving phone calls or text messages impersonating public officials and requesting the purchase of goods on their behalf, Gyeongsangnam-do has urged heightened caution among local institutions, businesses, and residents.

According to the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Government, since November, the Accounting Department and the Civil Service Call Center at the provincial office have received a series of inquiries regarding scams in which the perpetrators impersonated actual contract managers.

Earlier this month, a company in the province, referred to as Company A, was deceived by an unidentified scammer and transferred approximately 25 million won.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

This scammer approached Company A under the pretense of commissioning gas facility maintenance work for the provincial government office. The perpetrator presented a forged business card bearing the name of a real contract manager, their own contact information, and a fake official document stamped with a counterfeit provincial governor’s seal.

The scammer emphasized the urgency of the situation and requested that Company A purchase specific goods produced by Company B on their behalf.

While Company B is a legitimate business operating in the province, the individual who introduced themselves as a representative of Company B was actually an accomplice of the scammer and had no connection to the real company.

Another scammer, posing as a representative of Company B, demanded immediate payment from the victimized company.

Because Company A confirmed that Company B was a real business in the province, they transferred the payment to the account number provided by the scammer without suspicion. Afterward, the scammers cut off contact and disappeared.

The case is currently being investigated by the local police station that received the victim’s report, as well as the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Investigation Unit of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency.

A Gyeongsangnam-do official emphasized, "Public officials will never, under any circumstances, ask a company or individual to purchase goods or transfer money on their behalf."

The official added, "As these scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including impersonation of real companies, please always verify with the relevant institution if you receive such a request."

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