About 100,000 suspicious transactions flagged within a month of launch
Kakao Bank has launched an "AI-Safety call bot" that automatically phones customers when its fraud-detection system flags a suspicious transaction, prompting them to pause and verify a transfer before it goes through.
According to Kakao Bank, the AI call bot — introduced in late September — proactively reached out on roughly 100,000 suspected fraud transactions within its first month of operation.
Particularly notable was the impact on transfer cancellations: among customers who received a call, the rate at which they halted a transfer rose 54 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, before the system was in place.
When Kakao Bank's fraud detection system (FDS) flags a suspicious transaction, the AI call bot automatically calls the customer and advises them to pause the transfer and verify whether it is safe to proceed.
Previously, the bank relied on in-app warning pop-ups alone. The new system adds a phone call and a KakaoTalk notification message, giving customers time to reconsider a transaction even when a scammer is pressuring them to act quickly.
The notification messages are tailored to the customer's age and recent fraud trends, covering common schemes — such as impersonation of law enforcement or family members, fake loan offers, and high-return investment scams — along with guidance on how to respond. The design allows customers to first hear the warning by phone and then cross-check the fraud scenarios in the message against their own situation.
For customers aged 60 and older, the bank provides a full verbal walkthrough — covering major fraud types and prevention tips — regardless of whether a notification message is also sent. This reflects findings from preliminary research showing that older customers were more likely to end the call while trying to read the notification message.
"Preventing financial fraud requires not only technology to detect suspicious transactions, but also helping customers recognize the risk and avoid becoming victims," Kakao Bank said.
forest@heraldcorp.com
