A wave of fraud cases involving people impersonating civil servants or public institution employees has prompted local governments across South Korea to issue warnings, as scammers increasingly target businesses with fake purchases and payment demands.
According to local government officials, the scams typically involve presenting forged business cards and fraudulent official documents bearing the names and titles of real civil servants to gain the victim's trust, then demanding that businesses purchase goods through specific vendors, make advance payments, or cover costs on the scammer's behalf.
Particularly concerning are cases in which scammers pose as local governments or public institutions, sending paperwork designed to mimic official administrative procedures or steering businesses toward specific vendors under the guise of government support projects.
Taebaek city in Gangwon Province is urging anyone who receives a suspicious call or message purportedly from a city official to avoid using contact information or links provided by the caller, and instead verify the matter directly with the relevant department using phone numbers listed on the city's official website or its main switchboard.
The city added that central and local government offices do not include personal mobile phone numbers on official documents. Businesses should immediately verify the facts and refuse to proceed with any transaction if someone claiming to be a civil servant demands purchases from a specific vendor or requests payment to a personal or third-party account.
"Impersonating civil servants is a crime that exploits public trust in government institutions to harm small business owners and ordinary citizens," a Taebaek city official said. "If you receive any suspicious contact, please verify the facts through official administrative channels — not the number the caller provides — and do not make any purchases or payments before doing so."
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