Actress Lee Mi-sook Reveals She Fell Victim to a ₩60 Million Phishing Scam

Actress Lee Mi-sook (이미숙) recently shared her harrowing experience of falling victim to a phishing scam that resulted in a loss of approximately ₩60 million. On June 12, during a video on her YouTube channel, she recounted how a significant amount of money was withdrawn from her account without her knowledge.

Lee explained, "I was once scammed through the Chrome browser, and suddenly ₩50 to ₩60 million disappeared from my bank account. Since then, I have stopped making payments via my mobile phone." She detailed how hackers used her registered card to make purchases between 4 AM and 8 AM. When she inquired at the police station, she learned that there are methods for converting online shopping purchases into cash, which left her shocked and terrified.

She added, "After that incident, my phone was cloned, and all my transaction history and passwords were compromised. I was so scared that I decided not to use my phone for anything afterward."

Phishing incidents are on the rise, with the National Police Agency reporting that the average loss per victim of voice phishing increased by 73% last year, reaching ₩41 million. The total amount lost due to such scams soared to ₩854.5 billion, marking a 91% increase and the highest figure ever recorded. Compared to the previous peak in 2021, this amount is ₩80.1 billion higher. Last year, 1,793 individuals suffered losses exceeding ₩100 million, while 31 people lost over ₩1 billion.

To mitigate the financial damage and personal information leaks caused by phishing scams, immediate action is crucial. If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud or have incurred financial losses, it is essential to report the incident to the police (112), the Financial Supervisory Service (1332), or your financial institution's call center without delay.