The Broadcast Media Commission (BMC) has identified a total of 71 impersonation websites that have misused the names and logos of other businesses or mimicked official sites since April of this year.
During its 47th meeting on the 15th, the BMC's Communications Review Subcommittee announced it had reviewed and decided on two impersonation sites. These sites were deemed to violate the Fair Labeling and Advertising Act, which prohibits false or misleading representations, as well as the Criminal Code, which bans defamation and business obstruction. The subcommittee called for the termination of services and access restrictions for these sites.
Some of these impersonation sites have been found to solicit personal information such as names, resident registration numbers, contact details, and bank account numbers under the pretense of loan applications, membership registrations, and consultation requests, raising concerns about potential data breaches and financial fraud.
The impersonated entities included financial institutions, lottery operators, and insurance agents. Notably, one site illegally used the name and logo of a specific savings bank to promote collateral loans while soliciting personal information and loan applications. Another site imitated the name, logo, and main webpage of an official lottery operator to encourage membership sign-ups.
Kim Woo-seok, the subcommittee chair, stated, "The act of posting false information by misusing another business's information can cause significant harm not only to legitimate businesses but also to users. We plan to rigorously review information that misuses business data or engages in unfair labeling and advertising to prevent the spread of related damages."
He also urged users to verify the authenticity of websites and encouraged businesses that have had their information misused to promptly request a review from the BMC.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.