Gangnam-gu strengthens security against voice phishing and smishing

Gangnam-gu has implemented new security measures to prevent voice phishing and smishing attacks that impersonate public institutions. Starting in August, the district has strengthened its telecommunications defense by integrating the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) ‘Voice Call Blocking Service.’ This allows the district to block fraudulent calls that use stolen or manipulated Gangnam-gu phone numbers at the network level before they reach residents.

To complement this, the district is enhancing its official text messaging system. By adopting Rich Communication Services (RCS), official administrative messages—which average approximately 1 million per month—will now feature the Gangnam-gu institutional logo and a shield-shaped ‘safety mark.’ When a resident opens an official message, a ‘Verified Sender Number’ notification will appear, and users can access an official institutional profile by clicking the logo to distinguish legitimate communications from fraudulent ones.

These measures build upon a service launched in March 2023 that displays the specific agency and department name on the recipient's screen during official calls. District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki stated that establishing a protection system is vital as impersonation crimes continue, and the district intends to continue utilizing advanced technology to ensure resident safety.