"Let's Just Check One Time" Branch Manager Prevents 200 Million Won Voice Phishing Scam Targeting Man in His 70s

Jeon Miae, Branch Manager of Seohae Jungang Credit Union Hapdeok Branch
Security App Installation Reveals "Remote Control Status"

A story has emerged from Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, about a branch manager at a credit union who protected the assets of a man in his seventies from a telecommunications financial fraud (voice phishing) crime organization.

On July 11, Yonhap News reported the account of Jeon Miae, branch manager of the Seohae Jungang Credit Union's Hapdeok branch, who helped prevent a septuagenarian from falling victim to a voice phishing scam.

On June 24, a credit union member in his seventies, identified as Mr. A, visited the Hapdeok branch of Seohae Jungang Credit Union and requested the issuance of a One-Time Password (OTP) card. Branch Manager Jeon approached Mr. A to ask about the reason for the request, but Mr. A repeatedly refused to answer. Despite this, he appeared nervous and anxious, according to Jeon. She recalled, "I greet every elderly customer who visits and offer them tea, so I know all their faces. He was a familiar face, but on that day, he was completely different from usual."

Jeon noticed that he was holding a deposit cancellation slip from a nearby agricultural cooperative for approximately 1.98 billion won. As she explained the OTP issuance procedure at Mr. A's insistence, Jeon also assisted him with his mobile phone to help install the credit union's app. In the process, she spotted suspicious incoming calls from organizations such as the Financial Supervisory Service.

She said, "At first, the member was truly adamant," and added, "After repeated persuasion, I was able to confirm it was a voice phishing scam." After several more attempts to persuade Mr. A, she confirmed it was indeed a crime and was able to report the case to the police. Jeon recounted, "I told him, 'This is too strange. Let's just install a security application and check one time. If nothing unusual comes up, I will immediately issue you the OTP card.' When we installed the app, it showed that the phone was being remotely controlled."

According to the police investigation, Mr. A had been deceived by a phishing criminal impersonating employees of the post office, card companies, the prosecution, and the Financial Supervisory Service. He had canceled all his existing deposits totaling 2.3 billion won at his main financial institutions, such as the agricultural cooperative, and visited the Hapdeok branch of Seohae Jungang Credit Union to open a new account for the transfer.

The scammer threatened Mr. A, claiming he was implicated in a financial fraud case worth 5 billion won and faced imminent punishment, instructing him to temporarily surrender all his assets to the state. The scammer also gave specific directions, such as "Never disclose the crime to your children," "If you say you are canceling your deposit account because of a real estate investment, you can avoid suspicion," and "Go to a credit union where you have no previous transactions and open a new account."

Branch Manager Jeon Miae Who Prevented Voice Phishing Crime. Chungnam Dangjin Police Station

The Chungnam Dangjin Police Station awarded Branch Manager Jeon a certificate of appreciation for preventing the voice phishing scam, and Mr. A reportedly returned to the credit union to repeatedly express his gratitude. Jeon said, "He told me he never imagined he would fall victim to something he had only seen on the news," and added, "I only did what was right, but I am grateful for the recognition. I will continue to do my best to protect our customers' assets with a strong sense of responsibility."

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