South Korea Scams: Voice Phishing, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams in South Korea and how to report via the police ECRM portal, KISA 118, and your bank.
Emergency number: 112 (police), 118 (cyber/internet crime hotline) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
South Korea has seen sustained growth in voice phishing (bosiing), online investment fraud, fake banking app scams, and romance-linked crypto schemes. The Korean National Police Agency operates the ECRM cybercrime portal (ecrm.police.go.kr), and KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency) operates an internet crime hotline on 118. South Korean banks have implemented rapid-freeze procedures, and the financial regulator FSS publishes consumer fraud warnings.
Voice phishing here is unusually sophisticated. Callers impersonating prosecutors or the Financial Supervisory Service claim your account was used in a crime, then direct you to install a 'verification' app — actually malware that reroutes your outgoing calls, so that when you dial your real bank or the police to check, the fraudsters answer. Some operations still collect cash in person through couriers posing as officials. Messenger phishing on KakaoTalk is the family-targeted variant: a message from a 'son' or 'daughter' with a broken phone asks a parent to buy gift cards or transfer money, sometimes requesting the parent's ID photo and bank details 'to help', which are then used for loans in the parent's name.
Other persistent threats include jeonse and rental deposit fraud (fake landlords or over-leveraged buildings swallowing tenants' large lump-sum deposits — verify the property register before signing), second-hand marketplace fraud on platforms like Danggeun and Junggonara, smishing disguised as wedding invitations and funeral notices carrying malicious links, and investment 'reading rooms' on KakaoTalk and Telegram that coach victims into fake stock and coin platforms. If money moves, call your bank and 112 or 118 immediately — Korea's rapid-freeze framework can suspend the receiving account, and refund procedures exist for frozen funds — then file via the ECRM portal.
Common scams
- Voice phishing (bosiing) — callers impersonating police, prosecutors, or banks
- Fake banking app overlays stealing credentials
- Investment and crypto fraud
- Online marketplace non-delivery
Tourist-specific scams
- Overcharging unlicensed taxis
- Counterfeit goods at tourist markets
- Bar and club bill-padding in nightlife districts
Online shopping scams
- Fake banking apps and phishing impersonating major Korean banks
- Online shopping non-delivery via fake sites
- Remote-access fraud via fake customer service calls
- Smishing via fake wedding invitations and funeral notices
Job scams
- Task scams via messaging apps
- Fake part-time job offers requiring upfront fees
- 'Cash delivery' part-time ads recruiting unwitting voice-phishing couriers
Romance scams
- Dating-app romance and pig-butchering crypto investment grooming
- KakaoTalk messenger phishing impersonating children and relatives
- Video-call sextortion ('momcam' blackmail) via chat apps
Investment scams
- Fake trading platforms and unlicensed investment operators
- Crypto and 'AI bot' investment schemes
- KakaoTalk/Telegram 'reading rooms' coaching victims into rigged stock apps
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately to freeze the account and request a transfer recall
- Call KISA on 118 to report internet crime and hacking incidents
- Report cybercrime via the police ECRM portal at ecrm.police.go.kr
- File a police report at your nearest police station or call 112
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank immediately using the official number on your card or app — Korean banks have rapid-freeze procedures that are most effective within the first few minutes, and under Korea's telecom-fraud refund framework, funds still sitting in a suspended account can be returned to victims through a formal process. Ask for the receiving account to be suspended and a refund application started, explain that you were deceived into authorising the payment, and note the reference number. Critically: if you installed any app at a caller's request, your phone may reroute calls to the fraudsters, so make these calls from a different phone, then reset the compromised device. KISA's 118 line can advise on immediate steps, and 112 connects you to police. If you shared ID photos or account details via KakaoTalk, warn your bank about potential loan fraud in your name and check your credit records.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is bosiing (voice phishing)?
Bosiing is a Korean term for voice phishing — scammers call impersonating prosecutors, police, or bank officials, claiming the victim is under investigation and must transfer money to a 'safe account'. Real law enforcement never instructs citizens to move money by phone.
What is the KISA 118 hotline?
118 is KISA's free internet crime consultation and reporting hotline. You can report hacking, phishing, spam, and voice phishing incidents and receive guidance on immediate steps to take.
How do I check if an investment firm is authorised in South Korea?
Check the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) registers. Unlicensed investment operators are a major red flag and should be reported.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance