KB Kookmin Bank Prevents Approximately 11.6 Billion KRW in Voice Phishing Damages

Published 14 Oct.2025 14:01(KST)

KB Kookmin Bank counter scene. Photo is unrelated to the article content.

KB Kookmin Bank announced on October 14 that it had prevented approximately 1.16 billion won (about 1.16 billion KRW) in voice phishing damages as of the end of September this year.

Thanks to the prompt response of branch staff, a total of 183 cases were prevented, and in recognition of these efforts, the bank received 65 commendations from police stations nationwide.

Looking at the prevention cases, the methods have become increasingly sophisticated, going beyond simple remittance requests to include tactics such as check splitting, foreign currency exchange, and 'self-confinement gaslighting.' In some cases, these efforts not only blocked losses but also led to the on-site arrest of cash mules working for fraud organizations.

In one case, a customer visited with a 100 million won check and requested reissuance in smaller denominations, but their explanation for the source of funds and the information of the issuer did not match. The staff, finding this suspicious, asked the monitoring team to verify the details. It was confirmed to be funds from a voice phishing scam impersonating the prosecution, and the police were immediately notified, resulting in the arrest of the cash mule.

Prevention also occurred during foreign currency exchange. One customer attempted to exchange 15,000 US dollars, but their unclear purpose and lack of interest in exchange rates matched typical characteristics of a voice phishing cash mule. The staff checked with the monitoring team and discovered that the funds belonged to a victim deceived by a loan refinancing scam.

Recently, a new method known as 'self-confinement' has also been detected. A customer requested to withdraw 90 million won in cash, which was funds transferred from a savings bank after closing a deposit account. The transaction records revealed hotel card usage. The staff suspected a 'self-confinement type voice phishing' case, where the victim is manipulated into staying at a hotel after being contacted by someone impersonating a prosecutor. Collaboration with the monitoring team successfully prevented the fraud.

A KB Kookmin Bank representative stated, "Voice phishing tactics are becoming more sophisticated, making careful on-site response and close cooperation with the monitoring team essential. We will continue to strengthen staff training and public awareness, and actively fulfill our role as a social safety net to prevent financial fraud."