As the occurrences of statements like "I think I've fallen victim to voice phishing" and "My personal information has been leaked" become more frequent, it's imperative to consider preventive measures to avoid significant consequences in the event of actual financial incidents. The following methods can help mitigate potential damage, and they don't necessarily need to be followed in a specific order.
1. Basic Approach to Handling Voice Phishing: Report Lost Identification
If you've shared photos of your ID with someone, it's crucial to promptly report it as lost.
👉 Resident Registration Card: You can report the loss by visiting your local resident center or accessing the government's online authentication service using your digital certificate. You can also verify the status of the loss through services like the government's resident registration card verification or ARS (1382). If you report the loss late at night or on holidays, it's initially categorized as a "lost report," and once verified by local officials, it's updated to a "lost resident registration card," so keep this in mind.
👉 Driver's License: Visit a nearby police station or apply for reissuance through the Safe Driving Integrated Civil Service.
2. Report Lost Bank Accounts and Cards
As the consequences of leaked information can be unpredictable, it's safer to report the loss of all your accounts and cards from various financial institutions, despite the inconvenience.
👉 Accounts: Contact the branches or customer service centers of respective financial institutions. If your accounts are linked to security cards or OTPs, it's recommended to report the loss of those as well. If you have a shared certificate, it's advisable to discard it. However, be cautious as you might need the shared certificate for other loss reports.
👉 Card Loss Reporting Services allow simultaneous reporting to multiple card companies. If using the listed card companies, call the customer service center of one and report the loss. For other card companies, contact the respective financial institution's customer service center.
3. Register in the Incident Prevention System if Personal Information is Exposed
The incident prevention system alerts financial institutions about exposed personal information, preventing the creation of additional accounts, cards, loans, etc. However, not all financial institutions may receive this information, especially in the secondary financial sector. You can easily register or cancel registration through the incident prevention system's website after authentication. The website clarifies institutions that receive information, aiding your careful consideration.
4. Prevent New Mobile Phone Subscriptions to Counter Voice Phishing
Leaked personal information can be exploited to create fraudulent phones. Therefore, subscribing to the M-Saver service that prevents new mobile phone subscriptions or name changes is a valuable method to counter voice phishing. On the M-Saver website, apply with your digital certificate on a PC. The application might be more complex on mobile devices. Respective telecommunication company branches (LG U+ has direct branches) also accept applications. You can also check if there are any mobile phones (fraudulent ones) registered under your name.
5. Factory Reset Your Mobile Phone
If your mobile phone has malicious apps or hacking programs, it's wise to promptly delete them and perform a factory reset. Keep in mind that a factory reset erases all contacts and photos, so backup is recommended. Methods for factory reset vary based on the phone manufacturer:
👉 Samsung Phones: Settings - General management - Reset - Factory data reset
👉 Apple iPhones: Settings - General - Reset - Erase all content and settings
👉 LG Phones: Settings - General - Backup & reset - Factory data reset
Additionally, if you receive a call from someone claiming to be an investigator or law enforcement officer demanding money and suspect voice phishing, there's a call center that can help verify the authenticity of the caller. The "Real or Fake Center", operated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, operates 365 days a year, 24/7. By calling 010-3570-8242, you can confirm whether received prosecutor's IDs and related documents are genuine, providing effective guidance to tackle voice phishing. As about 40% of prosecuted voice phishing cases last year involved impersonations of prosecutors, demanding money for "deposit protection due to criminal involvement," caution is paramount.