Forged Official Documents Impersonating Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Cause Actual Damage in Busan

Forced Equipment Purchases Target Food Businesses

Busan City: "Report Suspicious Cases to Police"

A fraud case involving the use of forged official documents impersonating the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to force the purchase of goods has also occurred in Busan. The first reported victim in the Busan area is said to be a livestock product processing company.

According to the Busan Metropolitan Government on May 5, the scam involves deceiving businesses into believing that certain equipment is mandatory due to an alleged revision of the Food Sanitation Act. The perpetrators attempted to induce companies to purchase hygiene contamination meters (ATP meters) and thermo-hygrometers through specific suppliers.

The forged documents included the name of a contact person, inspection schedules, and contact information. These were sent via fax, text message, and email. The targets have reportedly expanded from food manufacturing and processing businesses and livestock product processing businesses to also include food service establishments and meat retailers.

There were also cases where victims were pressured by threats of administrative action if they did not procure the required equipment, or were promised future refunds in exchange for making payments upfront. In Busan, it was confirmed that a livestock product processing company suffered a financial loss.

The Busan Metropolitan Government emphasized that government agencies never force the purchase of specific goods or request payments by phone or text message. The city explained that designating a specific supplier, including personal mobile phone numbers in official documents, and requesting contracts and payments by phone are all strong indicators of impersonation.

If a suspicious case arises, individuals should immediately stop responding and verify with the relevant authorities. If financial damage occurs, it is also necessary to report the case to the police.

Kim Kyung-Deok, Acting Mayor of Busan, stated, "Since actual damage has occurred due to forged official documents, extra caution is required," adding, "If you receive any financial requests, always verify them to prevent becoming a victim."

Forgery of official documents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.