Hello! This is Shemihaza, the Guardian (Sentinel). Have you ever suddenly received messages on your smartphone or computer claiming to be from a delivery service, a bank, or even the tax office? In reality, those messages might be 'phishing scams' attempting to trick you into revealing your personal information or money. The methods are becoming more sophisticated year by year, with an increasing number of scams that look so real it's hard to tell the difference. Today, I'll share some information to protect you from such dangers.
The Latest Methods of Increasingly Sophisticated Phishing Scams
- ▸① Messages disguised as famous companies or services: Scammers impersonate major e-commerce sites, financial institutions, or power companies, creating anxiety with messages like 'There's a problem with your account' or 'Please update your information for security enhancement.' They try to make you click a fake link in the message and enter personal information or credit card details.
- ▸② Fake SMS 'delivery attempt notifications' impersonating delivery services: They send SMS (Short Message Service) messages disguised as missed delivery notifications, stating something like 'Your package could not be delivered. Please check here.' Tapping the URL provided leads you to a fake website that looks exactly like the real one, often resulting in victims downloading fake apps or entering IDs, passwords, and credit card numbers.
- ▸③ Fake emails impersonating the tax office or National Tax Agency: They send urgent emails with subject lines like 'You have unpaid taxes' or 'This is a demand letter,' directing you to a fake website. There, they try to trick you into entering personal information and credit card details to steal money. The National Tax Agency never sends emails about tax payments or seizures.
Checkpoints to Protect Yourself
- ✓Carefully check if the 'sender' of the message is truly from that company or institution, and if the email address or display name seems suspicious.
- ✓Do not easily click on URLs in messages. If you are concerned, 'directly' open the official app you normally use or a website you have bookmarked to verify the information.
- ✓Even if prompted to enter personal information (such as ID, password, credit card details), do not blindly trust it. Pause for a moment and carefully consider whether the information is truly necessary and if the site is trustworthy.
- ✓Ensure that security software and spam filters are properly set up on your smartphone and computer, and keep them constantly updated.
Where to Seek Help When in Trouble
If you feel anxious, thinking 'Could this be a scam?', or if you have actually fallen victim, please don't hesitate to consult someone immediately. The Consumer Hotline (188) and the Police Consultation Dial (#9110) are there to help you. If you have entered credit card or bank account information, contact your card company or bank immediately to arrange for service suspension or password changes. To protect your valuable information, always stay vigilant.