Upon Entering the Police Box, Suddenly "Shh!"... Voice Phishing Suspect Fooled Citizens and Caught by Police
by Kim Seungwook
Published 22 Jan.2025 09:59(KST)
An Incident at Hapdeok Police Station in Chungnam
Communicating with a Citizen on the Phone Using Notes
Heading Out Together to Catch a Voice Phishing Criminal
A citizen who calmly responded by visiting a police station after receiving a phone call suspected to be voice phishing has become a hot topic. On the 21st, the official YouTube channel of the Korean National Police Agency uploaded a video titled "Shh! Why Did the Citizen Cautiously Approach the Police?" According to the video, on the 9th, a citizen cautiously visited the Hapdeok Police Station located in Dangjin City, Chungnam Province.
On the 9th, a citizen visited Hapdeok Police Station located in Dangjin City, Chungnam, and caught a voice phishing criminal. Police Agency YouTube
원본보기 아이콘As soon as the citizen entered the police station, they gestured quietly to the police officer and pointed to their mobile phone. Suspicious, the officer immediately listened to the conversation coming from the phone and realized it was a case of voice phishing. It turned out that the citizen felt something was wrong after hearing a promise to repay a loan on their behalf. However, instead of hanging up to report, they continued the conversation and drove directly to the police station.
The police officer and the reporter communicated by writing on paper and devised a plan to catch the voice phishing criminal. After advising the reporter on precautions, the police set out together to find the voice phishing suspect. A plainclothes officer rode in the reporter’s car, while a uniformed officer followed in a personal vehicle.
Shortly after, the reporter met the voice phishing suspect at the agreed location, handed over 15 million won in cash, and immediately left. At that moment, police officers nearby quickly surrounded the suspect and arrested them on the spot. The video concludes with the message, "We will continue to be the responsible police for the people." Netizens who saw this responded with comments such as "The wise judgment of the reporter and the police officer is impressive" and "The reporter’s composure is remarkable."
According to the Financial Supervisory Service, the amount of domestic voice phishing damage in 2023 increased by more than 30% compared to the previous year, nearing 200 billion won. Although the number of voice phishing victims decreased, high-value damage cases increased, with the average damage per person reaching 17.1 million won. Loan impersonation-type damage accounted for the largest share at 35.2% of the total.
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