Upbit Warns Against 'Self-Confinement Type' Voice Phishing Scams

Dunamu, the operator of the virtual asset exchange Upbit, has launched activities to prevent 'self-confinement type' voice phishing scams.

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The self-confinement type scam is a new method in which voice phishing criminals impersonate law enforcement agencies and instruct victims to stay in accommodations. In this situation, where all contact with the outside world is completely blocked, victims are induced to transfer their assets.

Upbit shared a case in which it prevented damage by informing a user who had fallen victim to voice phishing about the possibility of a crime.

Mr. A received a call from a scammer impersonating a law enforcement officer, claiming that his bank account was involved in a crime. The impersonator instructed Mr. A to go to a motel, terminate his savings account, and purchase digital assets on Upbit. The scammer then pressured him to transfer the digital assets to a specific wallet address via an overseas exchange.

Following the scammer's instructions, Mr. A attempted to withdraw digital assets worth 40 million won from Upbit to an overseas exchange. At this point, he was contacted by an Upbit consultant, who had identified the withdrawal as suspicious. Upbit reached out to Mr. A and informed him about voice phishing cases. Realizing he was being scammed, Mr. A canceled the withdrawal.

Ms. B received a call from a scammer impersonating a prosecutor, claiming she was involved in a criminal case. The impersonator even provided a link to verify official documents such as a search warrant. The scammer told Ms. B that to prove she was a victim and not an accomplice, she needed to activate a new phone dedicated to the investigation and self-isolate in an external accommodation.

Ms. B followed these instructions for two days and attempted to withdraw digital assets worth 74 million won. However, Upbit detected the suspicious withdrawal and was able to prevent the damage by notifying her.

An Upbit representative said, "Never respond to requests for financial information or passwords, installation of unfamiliar apps, or remote control. If you are suspicious, hang up immediately and report it to the police."

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