Government Impersonation Scams in Korea: NPS, NHIS & Tax Agency Fraud

"Your National Pension payment is overdue. Click the link below to verify."

In South Korea, 16.93% of all phishing texts impersonate government agencies. These aren't crude attempts — they replicate official logos, use formal language, and reference real government programs. The sophistication has reached a level where even tech-savvy citizens can be fooled.

Most Commonly Impersonated Agencies

Rank	Agency	Common Scam Pretexts
1	National Health Insurance Service (NHIS/건강보험공단)	Health checkup results, overdue premiums
2	National Pension Service (NPS/국민연금공단)	Pension amount changes, unpaid contributions
3	National Tax Service (NTS/국세청)	Tax refund notifications, unpaid income tax
4	Courts (법원)	Lawsuit notifications, fine payment notices
5	Prosecution/Police (검찰·경찰)	Account involved in crime, fund transfer demands

How These Scams Work

1. NHIS Phishing Emails with Fake CI Logos

Scammers send emails with the official NHIS corporate identity logo, claiming "Your health checkup results are ready" or "Insurance premium refund available." The link leads to a credential-harvesting page.

How to tell: NHIS never requests personal information via email. Check results only through the official app (The건강보험) or website (nhis.or.kr).

2. National Pension "Unpaid Notice" (미납 통지)

A text message states your pension contributions are overdue, with a link to "verify." Clicking installs malware or leads to a phishing form.

How to tell: NPS never sends payment links via text. Call their hotline (1355) directly.

3. Tax Refund Notification (환급금 안내)

"An income tax refund has been issued. Please register your refund account." This message tricks victims into providing bank account numbers and passwords.

How to tell: Tax refunds are only processed through HomeTax (hometax.go.kr). Any SMS or call requesting refund account details is 100% a scam.

4. Prosecution/Police Impersonation Calls

"Your account has been used in criminal activity. Transfer your funds to a safety account immediately." These calls create urgency and pressure for immediate wire transfers.

How to tell: Law enforcement never requests fund transfers by phone. "Safety accounts" (안전계좌) do not exist.

5 Things Government Agencies NEVER Do

#	They NEVER...
1	Request money transfers via phone or text
2	Ask you to install apps (especially remote access tools)
3	Request personal info (ID number, account number, passwords) via text
4	Direct you to transfer money to a "safety account"
5	Tell you to keep it secret ("Don't tell your family")

How to Verify Suspicious Contact

Immediate Steps

1. Call directly: Find the official number from the agency's website — not from the message
2. Check official apps: Look for notifications in the agency's official app
3. Talk to someone: Discuss with family or friends before taking any action

Where to Report

• 112: Police
• 118: KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency) — smishing/phishing reports
• 1332: Financial Supervisory Service — financial fraud reports

Sharing Sensitive Information Safely

When sharing government-related documents or information with family — tax filings, health records, pension statements — don't send them through unprotected channels. LOCK.PUB lets you create password-protected links for sensitive documents, ensuring only intended recipients can access them.

Protecting Elderly Family Members

Seniors are the primary targets for government impersonation scams.

What Family Members Can Do

1. Install call-blocking apps on their phones
2. Set a rule: "If the government calls, hang up and call me first"
3. Save official agency numbers in their contacts (NHIS: 1577-1000, NPS: 1355)
4. Regularly share examples of current scam tactics

You can save a list of official agency contacts and warning signs on LOCK.PUB and share the password-protected link with family members for easy reference.

Conclusion

Government impersonation scams affect everyone, regardless of age or tech literacy. The golden rule: no government agency will ever ask you to transfer money or provide passwords by phone or text. When in doubt, hang up and verify directly.

For safely sharing sensitive government-related information, use LOCK.PUB to protect your links with a password.