Seoul's automatic citizen safety insurance never asks for personal data — beware fake sites

Phishing sites impersonating Seoul's citizen safety insurance program have emerged, posing as official enrollment and consultation portals to steal personal information from residents.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Saturday, the phishing sites were identified through a complaint filed with the city's online civil petition system. As of that day, the city had confirmed one related complaint and said it was continuing to check for additional victims and similar fraudulent sites.

The confirmed phishing sites target residents who reach them through portal search advertisements or SNS, presenting screens designed to look as though the city is accepting enrollment or consultation requests for the citizen safety insurance program. Visitors are prompted to enter personal details including their name, date of birth and contact information.

The Seoul Citizen Safety Insurance program automatically covers all Seoul residents without any separate application. Claims are accepted only by mail, KakaoTalk channel or email, and the city does not operate any website that requires personal data entry.

"Please be wary of any site that asks you to enter personal information under the pretext of enrollment or consultation," a city official said. "If you have already entered your information, stay alert to incoming calls or text messages, and do not comply with any request for your resident registration number, bank account number, verification code or money — report it to the police or your financial institution."

The official added that residents should avoid clicking links in text messages, SNS posts or online advertisements from unverified sources, and should check information about the citizen safety insurance only through official channels such as the city's website.

To protect residents from further harm, the city has reported the sites to the Korea Internet & Security Agency and requested emergency access blocks.

In addition, the city said it plans to pursue legal action, including a police investigation referral, over violations such as impersonating a local government and illegally collecting personal information.

Choi Jin-seok, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's disaster and safety division, urged residents to "immediately report any suspicious site by calling the Korean National Police Agency or the Korea Internet & Security Agency."