Phishing Scams in Korea: Stop, Verify and Protect Your Accounts

Phishing Scams in Korea: Stop, Verify and Protect Your Accounts

A caller or message may know your name, bank, recent transaction or another convincing detail. That information does not prove the contact is genuine. On October 6, 2026, Korea’s Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service issued a consumer alert about potential phishing and loan scams following personal-information breaches in the financial sector.

The authorities announced a one-month special response period beginning October 6 and instructed financial companies to operate help desks and strengthen monitoring of suspicious account openings, loan applications and large transfers involving stolen data.

Break the scammer’s control

If a call or message creates urgency:

• Stop the conversation and do not transfer money
• Do not share a password, card PIN or one-time code
• Do not install an app or open a file sent by the caller
• Do not trust a telephone number displayed in the message
• Contact the bank through its official app, website or published number
• Verify a family member’s situation through a separate channel
• Keep screenshots, numbers, account details and transaction receipts

Police guidance warns that investigators do not demand money and recommends calling 112 when voice phishing is suspected. A delivery notice, loan offer, government-support payment or family emergency can all be used as a pretext.

If money has already been sent, act immediately. Call 112 and ask the relevant financial institution to stop payment on the receiving account. Explain exactly when, where and how the transfer occurred. Do not pay a second person who promises to recover the money for a fee.

If you installed a suspicious app, use another trusted device to contact the bank or police. A malicious app can interfere with calls and messages on the affected phone. Follow official instructions for securing accounts, checking the device and changing credentials.

Read the FSC’s October 6, 2026 consumer alert and the Korean National Police Agency’s official voice-phishing prevention guidance.

Consumer alert and police guidance checked: October 12, 2026. Scam methods change quickly; verify every request through an independently obtained official contact.