Advance-Fee Scams in South Korea
Prepayment fraud targeting Korean victims with lottery wins, government subsidies, or inheritance claims requiring upfront fees before funds can be released.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Advance-fee fraud continues to victimize South Koreans, adapted to exploit timely themes: government COVID-related subsidies, cultural heritage inheritance from overseas relatives, or national lottery promotions. These schemes are delivered by phone, email, and KakaoTalk to victims who are often elderly or unfamiliar with common fraud patterns.
Some advance-fee scams in Korea are run by international networks who send Korean-language scripts to operators contacting Korean nationals, while others are domestic operations exploiting government program names.
How this scam works on South Korea
A victim receives a KakaoTalk message or email claiming they have won a major lottery (such as a fake 동행복권 state lottery prize), or that a deceased relative abroad has left an inheritance requiring legal processing. To release the funds, a succession of fees must be paid: legal fees, transfer taxes, customs bonds.
Government subsidy variants claim the victim is eligible for a special 정부 지원금 (government support payment) but must pay a small registration or verification fee to activate the transfer. These are timed to coincide with periods when real government payments are circulating.
Each payment produces a new obstacle — a new fee or regulatory requirement — and the promised funds never arrive.
Common red flags
- Unexpected notification of lottery winnings from a lottery you never entered
- Inheritance from a distant or unknown relative requiring advance legal fees
- Government subsidy notification arriving via KakaoTalk rather than official channels
- Each payment generates a new required fee before funds can be released
- Contact instructs you to keep correspondence confidential
- Communication comes from personal email or messaging accounts rather than official channels
How to protect yourself
- Korean government payments are notified through 정부24 (Government 24) and never require advance fees
- Real lottery prizes (동행복권) can be verified on their official website — you cannot win without buying a ticket
- No legitimate inheritance process requires multiple unexplained fees from beneficiaries
- Consult a licensed Korean attorney (법무사/변호사) before paying any fees related to a claimed inheritance
- Share any unexpected prize or benefit notification with a trusted family member before acting
How to report it
- Report to National Police Agency at police.go.kr or call 112
- File a fraud complaint with the Korean Consumer Agency (한국소비자원) at kca.go.kr
- Report impersonation of government programs to the relevant ministry directly
Frequently asked questions
Can I verify Korean government subsidy eligibility without paying any fee?
Yes. All official Korean government subsidy programs are listed and checked for free on 정부24 (government24.go.kr). No government program requires an advance payment to confirm eligibility or release funds.