Authorities have blocked access to numerous phishing sites that misused the names and profile photos of registered lawyers to deceive legal consumers.
On August 7, the Korean Bar Association (KBA), led by President Kim Jung-wook, announced that it had successfully collaborated with the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) to block access to 31 impersonation sites. This action aims to eradicate the rising trend of lawyer impersonation scams and prevent public harm.
Recently, multiple reports have surfaced of fraudulent websites that disguise themselves as legitimate law firms by unlawfully using the names, photos, and credentials of actual KBA-registered lawyers.
The perpetrators employed sophisticated tactics, reaching out to victims in need of legal assistance and encouraging them to engage in remote consultations. They posed as fake lawyers, extorting money under the guise of retainer fees or consultation charges, causing significant financial and emotional distress while disrupting the legal order.
In response, the KBA initiated dedicated monitoring to establish order in the legal market and protect public rights. They compiled a list of suspected impersonation sites and formally requested the KCSC to conduct effective investigations and implement strong blocking measures. Following a review, the KCSC communicated its findings on August 4.
Of the sites reviewed, 31 were found to violate Article 44-7 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, and Article 112 of the Attorney-at-Law Act, leading to a final decision for 'corrective action and access blocking.' Three sites were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
The KBA plans to enhance its ongoing monitoring system to ensure a robust legal response to impersonation crimes.
A KBA official emphasized, "When delegating cases or seeking legal advice online, it is crucial to verify the registration status of lawyers through the official KBA website to prevent phishing scams."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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