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| Seoul Metropolitan Government posted a warning for foreign residents against voice phishing. Yonhap |
By Kim Se-jeong
Julian, a Mongolian resident of Seoul, received a text message recently asking for his bank account information with the promise that the COVID-19 relief fund would be applied on his behalf and sent to his account.
"I almost sent my bank account number. But I showed it to my Korean friend and decided not to reply. I have other people around me who received similar messages," he said was quoted as saying by Yonhap New Agency.
Julian is among a growing number of foreign residents in Seoul who are targeted by phone phishing scammers, which approach them with the promise of getting the relief fund for them.
"Don't forget that only you can file for the disaster relief fund application for yourself. Also, the city government doesn't send any text messages in regard to the application," the city government said in a warning posted on one of its websites.
Another foreign resident wrote on the city government's website: "I've got a call asking for my bank account number for the same reason. Foreign residents are much more vulnerable to crimes like this and something has to be done."
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is currently receiving applications for the disaster relief fund for foreign residents registered in the city. The relief fund was already offered in May to city residents who were struggling due to the pandemic, but the city skipped foreign residents citing their nationality. However, it reversed its policy after a recommendation by the human rights commission last month.
Foreigners have been under a growing threat of phone fraud.
In December, the Financial Supervisory Service announced among 54,364 bank accounts linked to phone fraud, 2,234, or 4.1 percent, belonged to foreign residents. It added the number of cases where non-Korean residents fall victim to phone fraud was increasing.
"They can become victims easily because of their lack of fluency in Korean and understanding of the local culture," Lee Yoon-ho, a professor of Korea Cyber University, said during an interview with Yonhap. "Someone should tell them that they can be the victim in advance."
According to the city government's department handling foreign residents, it hasn't received any report from victims yet, but said "when you receive a text message asking to click the link, don't click because your phone can be hacked also."
Those who need help should call 112 or 1332 (Financial Supervisory Service).
The relief fund applications will be open until Sept. 25, and the city government estimates almost 197,000 foreign residents would be beneficiaries of the program.
