Jason Teale
Voice phishing (보이스피싱) is one of the most damaging and persistent scams in Korea. In 2023 alone, victims across the country lost more than ₩700 billion to these crimes. Scammers are especially active during Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and tax season, when people are distracted or expecting official calls and texts.
What do 02, 031, and 070 mean?
- 02 – Seoul area code. Legitimate, but often spoofed.
- 031 – Gyeonggi-do (around Seoul). Frequently spoofed.
- 070 – VoIP/Internet phone numbers, common for call centers.
⚠️ Note: Even Ulsan’s 052 can be spoofed. Caller ID is not proof.
Common Scams in Korea
Prosecutor/Police/Court impersonation
Scammers pretend you’re under investigation. They may send fake documents and demand you move money into a “safe” account or install a remote app.
The best advice is to ask for a case number and then head directly to the police. If you are under investigation, the local police station will let you know what to do. If they check and there is nothing, let the officers know what happened. Give them the number and then block that number immediately.
“Safe account” bank scam
They claim your account is compromised and insist you move funds into a temporary account. This is never legitimate.
ALWAYS go to your bank and ask for any details. NEVER handle anything to do with your account through your phone. The safest way to handle these situation is to never respond to anything until you have visited your bank in person.
Telecom / SIM swap scams
Threats about unpaid phone bills, SIM misuse, or blocked lines. Anytime you get one of these calls or messages, just ignore them and check with your service provider. Call them directly. Most of the major companies now have English, Chinese and other language support available.
Delivery, tax refund, and government coupon scams
Text messages claim you’re eligible for a delivery refund, tax return, or even government aid coupons. So far there have been 2 instalments of the livelihood recovery coupons and typically they are handle through your credit card provider or other local offices. They are NEVER processed through unofficial links or random text messages.
🚨 Beware fake coupon texts: Recently, scammers sent messages about “livelihood recovery coupons.”The Korean government confirms it never sends links by text for benefits. If you get a message with a link, delete it.
Job & part-time “money mule” scams
Offers of easy cash for “using your account” or “receiving packages.” In reality, this makes you part of a crime. No matter what your situation is know one very important thing; there is no “free” or “easy” money. If you are being asked to use your account for sketchy activities, then that should be a red flag.
If you need money or a job, please reach out to your community, university or the Ulsan Online Facebook group for help. NEVER accept sketchy job offers from random people that you meet or who send you text messages.
Foreigners Are Now Targeted
Scammers increasingly impersonate immigration officials, police, and consulates. Due to the increase in the amount of foreign workers, students, and residents in Korea, scammers have realized many of us do not full understand the laws in Korea and are easily fooled.
The rule of thumb to keep yourself safe is to always handle immigration affairs at the immigration office. Never send personal information like your passport or ARC card to strangers. This is problematic because many Korean employers demand these documents when getting a job. Scammers have picked up on this and have used this to their advantage.
Tactics include:
- Fake visa or deportation threats.
- Demands for ARC/passport scans.
- “Fines” to be paid by bank transfer or crypto.
- English/Korean mix to sound official.
Bottom line: Immigration and government offices never demand money or documents by phone or us 010 (private cell phone numbers.
What to Do During a Suspicious Call
- Stay calm — urgency is their weapon.
- Don’t share OTPs, PINs, ARC/passport scans.
- Don’t install apps sent via text.
- Hang up. Block the number. Verify by calling the official number.
- If you clicked a link, put your phone in Airplane Mode and call 118 (KISA).
If You Already Sent Money or Info
- Call your bank immediately → ask for emergency payment suspension (지급정지).
- Call 112 → report to police.
- Call 1332 → Financial Supervisory Service.
- Call 118 → for cyber/malware help.
- Change passwords, remove suspicious apps, and save all evidence.
Ulsan-Specific Advice
- Scammers can spoof 052 just like 02 or 031.
- Foreigners in Ulsan should go directly to the Nambu Police Station near City Hall for in-person help.
- Local banks and police here are trained in 지급정지 procedures.
Extra Protection Tips
- New iPhones have “Silence Unknown Callers” in Settings. (settings -> apps -> phone -> scroll down and turn on the feature)
- Many Android phones have built-in spam filters.
- Enable these features to reduce scam calls.
Quick Contacts (save these)
- 112 – Police
- 1332 – Financial Supervisory Service
- 118 – KISA (cyber help)
- 1345 – Immigration helpline
Most victims say the call felt real. Always go directly to the source (bank problems = go to the bank, immigration issues = go to the immigration office, accused of a crime = go to the police, etc). Scammers thrive on our ignorance. The more careful you are, the safer you will be.
Share this article with coworkers, neighbors, and community chats. A five-minute read could save someone’s savings.
Stay safe, Ulsan! 💙
