# Consumer fraud and phishing in South Korea

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/consumer-fraud-and-phishing-in-south-korea
> Updated: 2026-08-26T04:18:40.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

South Korea has experienced various surges in fraudulent activities targeting consumers. In early 2026, the Financial Intelligence Unit reported that nearly 5,000 bank accounts faced temporary transaction suspensions due to new phishing scams, with romance scams being the most prevalent method, accounting for 41 percent of cases.

Later in the year, reports emerged regarding a rise in overseas shopping scams promoted via YouTube advertisements. Consumer complaints for these scams increased significantly throughout the first half of the year, rising from 31 cases in January to 142 in June. These incidents frequently involve misleading advertising, refusal of refunds, and unreachable sellers, with clothing and fashion items being the most common category of complaint. Data indicates that consumers aged 50 and older are disproportionately affected, representing over 65 percent of victims.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: South Korea sees surge in YouTube-linked overseas shopping scams

Consumer complaints regarding overseas shopping sites advertised on YouTube have surged in South Korea, with clothing being the most affected category and older adults being the primary victims.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/seoul-reports-surge-in-consumer-complaints-over-overseas-shopping-ads

### 2026-08-07: South Korea reports surge in new phishing scams

South Korea's FIU reported nearly 5,000 account suspensions due to new phishing trends, including romance scams, fake purchase schemes, and team mission fraud.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-reports-surge-in-new-phishing-scams

---
Cite as: Consumer fraud and phishing in South Korea. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/consumer-fraud-and-phishing-in-south-korea