Voice Phishing in South Korea: A Billion-Dollar Crime Wave

Voice phishing (vishing) is the number one scam type in South Korea, with total damages reaching 1.965 trillion KRW (approximately $1.5 billion USD) in 2023 alone. In 2025, government impersonation cases exploded to 13,323 cases — a staggering 4x increase from the previous year.

This guide breaks down how these scams work, the exact scripts fraudsters use, and the concrete steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

The Two Main Types of Voice Phishing in Korea

Type	Method	Target
Government Impersonation (기관사칭형)	Pose as prosecutors, police, or financial regulators → demand app installation → trick victims into transferring to "safe accounts"	13,323 cases in 2025 (4x increase)
Fake Loan Offers (대출빙자형)	Offer low-interest loans → demand upfront fees (processing, insurance, notarization) → disappear after payment	Targets people in financial difficulty

How the Government Impersonation Scam Works

Stage 1: Creating Fear

"This is the Central Investigation Bureau. Your bank account has been flagged in a criminal investigation."

• Scammers impersonate prosecutors, police, or the Financial Supervisory Service
• They spoof real government phone numbers (caller ID fraud)
• Victims are told not to tell anyone — "this is a confidential investigation"

Stage 2: Taking Control

"Please install this security app for the investigation."

• Victims are guided to install remote control apps (TeamViewer, AnyDesk)
• Once installed, the scammer has full control of the victim's phone
• They can read texts, access banking apps, and intercept verification codes

Stage 3: Stealing Money

"Transfer your funds to this safe account for protection."

• Victims are directed to transfer money to the scammer's account
• In some cases, the scammer directly operates the banking app via remote control
• Once the transfer is complete, the scammer disappears

Prevention: What You Must Know

Government Agencies Will NEVER:

• Ask you to install apps over the phone
• Ask you to transfer money to a "safe account"
• Threaten arrest over the phone without prior written notice
• Tell you to keep the call secret from your family

Protective Measures

Measure	How It Helps
Delayed Transfer Service (지연이체)	30-minute delay on large transfers — available free at all Korean banks
Citizen Conan App (시티즌코난)	Police-developed app that detects malicious remote control apps
Call Verification	Hang up and call the agency's official number directly
Family Safe Word	Pre-agreed code word to verify real emergencies vs. scam calls

Where to Report

Organization	Number
Korean National Police	112
Financial Supervisory Service	1332
KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency)	118

Protecting Your Family with Encrypted Emergency Info

Voice phishing scammers also impersonate family members in distress. Having a pre-agreed family safe word and emergency contacts readily available can make the difference between catching a scam and losing your savings.

Rather than sharing emergency contacts and safe words through iMessage or Messenger — where they could be exposed in a data breach — you can use LOCK.PUB's encrypted memo feature to store this critical information behind a password.

What to Store	Example
Family safe word	"Blue umbrella"
Bank fraud hotlines	Your bank's emergency number
Emergency contacts	Spouse, parents, siblings
Police/FSS numbers	112 / 1332 / 118

Create a secure memo and share the password with your family so everyone can access it in an emergency while keeping it protected during normal times.

Protecting Elderly Family Members

Seniors are disproportionately targeted by voice phishing. Help your parents or grandparents by:

1. Installing the Citizen Conan app on their phone
2. Enrolling them in the delayed transfer service at their bank
3. Teaching one simple rule: "If someone claiming to be a prosecutor calls, hang up immediately"
4. Setting up a family safe word for emergency verification
5. Storing emergency response info in a LOCK.PUB encrypted memo they can access

Key Takeaways

Voice phishing is not just a Korean problem — it's a global threat. But Korea's unique combination of high smartphone penetration, real-name verification systems, and sophisticated criminal networks makes it especially dangerous. Enroll in delayed transfer services, install Citizen Conan, establish family safe words, and store your emergency information securely with LOCK.PUB.

The best defense is preparation.