Voice phishing crime and prevention in South Korea

Authorities and financial workers have been active in combating voice phishing crimes in South Korea.

In a major international operation, South Korean and Chinese police dismantled a China-based call center that targeted 118 victims, mostly elderly South Koreans. The group stole approximately 10 billion won by using malicious apps to intercept calls and impersonate law enforcement and financial regulators. The joint investigation resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals in China, with six South Koreans being extradited to face charges.

Separately, in Gwangju, a Nonghyup Bank employee prevented a 410 million KRW scam. The employee became suspicious of a customer attempting a large transfer under the guise of helping a relative. Following police intervention, a second mobile phone containing malicious applications was discovered, confirming the fraud attempt and allowing authorities to halt the transaction.

Recent data indicates a shift in the nature of these crimes. While the frequency of voice phishing incidents has decreased, the financial impact has intensified. According to analysis of Korean National Police Agency data by National Assembly member Kwon Young-jin, total damages reached a five-year high of 1.2578 trillion won in 2025.

Although the number of cases dropped by 24.6% between 2021 and 2025, total financial losses surged by 62.4% in that same period. This trend is driven largely by impersonation-style fraud, where criminals pose as officials from the prosecution or the Financial Supervisory Service. These impersonation crimes accounted for 78.6% of all voice phishing damages in 2025, with losses in this category increasing nearly 5.7 times since 2021.