Incheon police launch crime prevention campaign amid falling voice phishing losses

Voice phishing crimes in Incheon, South Korea, have seen a significant decline compared to last year. According to the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, from January to August this year, there were 430 reported cases of voice phishing, resulting in 18.7 billion won in damages. This represents a 55.9% decrease in case numbers and a 60.2% decrease in total damages compared to the same period last year, when losses reached 47 billion won.

Despite the decline, police warn of increasingly sophisticated tactics. Criminals are impersonating card delivery drivers, police officers, prosecutors, and officials from the Financial Supervisory Service. Common methods include claiming identity theft or involvement in criminal accounts to induce victims into installing remote-control applications or transferring funds.

To combat these evolving threats, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency has collaborated with the Incheon Viewer Media Center and students from Incheon University to produce three 35-second short-form campaign videos. These videos aim to educate the public on voice phishing, 'no-show' scams, and new drug-related crimes. The content will be distributed via social media, local broadcasting stations, and financial institution branches.