Phone Scams Impersonating Public Agencies on the Rise, Targeting Deposits

Telephone scams tricking people into paying in advance for goods or contracts by impersonating public institution employees are increasing again. Scammers are employing bold tactics, even forging official documents and business cards, requiring particular caution.

Recently, the CEO of a printing company in Sacheon, identified as Mr. A, received a call from someone posing as an employee of the Sacheon Culture Foundation, proposing they pay in advance for promotional material production costs. The scammer claimed to belong to a 'Management Support Team' unrelated to the foundation. Mr. A became suspicious and verified the information directly, preventing a potential loss.

In February, a scam attempt impersonating the Sacheon Culture Foundation involved a forged official document and a fake business card bearing the foundation's chairman's seal, demanding an advance payment of 50 million won out of a total of 120 million won for an event agency. The Sacheon Culture Foundation issued a warning through its website and social media regarding impersonation attempts.

The foundation emphasized that they do not request personal account transfers or proxy purchases of goods, and advised that in case of suspicion, individuals should verify directly through the foundation's official phone number rather than relying solely on documents or business cards. According to National Police Agency statistics from last year, there were approximately 13,000 cases of institutional impersonation scams nationwide, with damages totaling 988.4 billion won. Police urge individuals to verify suspicious contact attempts directly through the institution's main number or to report them.