If you receive texts about 'delivery issues' or 'unpaid fines' ahead of the Chuseok holiday, it is advisable not to click on any links. During this festive season, the increase in package deliveries, vehicle movements, and family communications can lead to a rise in voice phishing and smishing scams.
According to the financial sector on the 26th, common smishing tactics to watch out for around Chuseok include impersonating delivery services or fines to lure individuals into clicking on malicious URLs. Clicking on an unverified link can result in the installation of harmful apps that may steal personal or financial information. If you receive a suspicious message, it is better to verify the information through the official website or contact number of the relevant organization rather than using the contact details provided in the message.
Be cautious of messages impersonating family or friends, often claiming that their phone is broken or that they urgently need money. There are also cases where scammers pose as law enforcement, creating anxiety by claiming that your identity has been stolen or that you are involved in a crime, and then demanding money transfers or personal information.
After the holiday, be careful when trading foreign currency with unknown individuals. Engaging in such transactions could inadvertently involve you in money laundering activities if criminal funds are exchanged.
Financial institutions are also offering preventive services ahead of the holiday. Kakao Bank provides an 'AI Smishing Text Check' service, where users can paste suspicious text into the app, and the AI will analyze the risk of smishing. The service categorizes risks into four types and provides reasoning, including whether the URL is from an unverified source.
To prevent identity theft, users can check their mobile lines registered under their name or restrict new line activations through the Kakao Bank app.
Toss Bank will maintain 24/7 customer service during the Chuseok holiday. Customers can report and file complaints about financial fraud, including voice phishing, through phone, email, or chat support throughout the holiday.
In the event of actual financial fraud, users can apply for the 'Safe Compensation System.' This program compensates for losses from money transfers, payments, or withdrawals due to third-party identity theft and voice phishing, with a maximum compensation of 50 million won after an internal review. However, users may be excluded from compensation if they shared critical access information with others or proceeded with a transfer despite receiving warnings about potential financial risks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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