Voice phishing crimes drop 40% thanks to tougher measures

Between October and July of this year, the number of voice phishing cases in the country dropped nearly 40 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the government. This decrease is attributed to a series of special measures implemented to combat the crime, announced on Wednesday by the government. In August 2025, a special anti-voice phishing task force was formed, and a range of actions were taken to eliminate voice phishing crimes, including emergency blocking of phone numbers involved in such activities, introducing an artificial intelligence-based warning system, and strengthening international cooperation.

The measures began to show results in October when the number of cases decreased by 32.8 percent year-on-year to 1,226. This trend continued for ten consecutive months, with the number of cases falling to 12,554 between October and July, a 39.9 percent year-on-year reduction. Alongside the decrease in cases, the financial losses from these crimes also dropped significantly, declining by 43.2 percent to 632.4 billion won, approximately $462.5 million, as reported by the prime minister's office.