The South Korean government has issued a warning about a recent surge in phishing scams targeting individuals by impersonating postal service workers. Scammers are calling people, claiming to be delivering a credit card and asking for personal information such as addresses and other details. The Ministry of Science and ICT's Korea Post emphasizes that postal workers never ask recipients for their delivery address.

Korea Post has reported several cases of this scam and urges anyone who receives such a call to report it to the police or other investigative authorities.

How the Scam Works

The scammers call random people, claiming to be postal workers with a credit card delivery. If the recipient says they didn't apply for a card, the scammer provides a phone number for the "card company." When the recipient calls that number, they are prompted to install a malicious app, which then allows the scammers to steal personal information from the recipient's phone.

Similar Incident Last Year

This type of scam is similar to one that occurred last December, where scammers impersonated postal workers from Incheon Namdong Post Office. They provided fake contact information for the post office and attempted to trick people into providing personal information or installing malicious software.

Korea Post's Advice

Korea Post has issued the following guidelines to help people protect themselves from these scams:

Be suspicious of unexpected calls: If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a postal worker, especially if they are asking for personal information, be very suspicious.
Never provide personal information over the phone: Legitimate postal workers will never ask for your personal information over the phone.
Report suspicious calls: If you receive a suspicious call, report it to the police or other investigative authorities immediately.
Protect your smartphone: Follow the police's "Security Rules for Preventing Cyber Fraud" by not clicking on unknown URLs or phone numbers and strengthening your smartphone's security settings.
Remember: Postal workers in South Korea do not ask recipients for their delivery address. They deliver mail to the address printed on the item.

Five Tips to Avoid Being Scammed

Be aware of any mail you should be receiving.
Check for delivery notifications via text or social media.
Ask the caller for the exact address and registration number on the mail item.
Verify the caller's contact information and registration number through the Korea Post Customer Center.
If you suspect a scam, report it to the police immediately.

Stay Vigilant

By following these tips and staying vigilant, you can help protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.