---
title: "Seoul Witnesses a Coalition Against Increasing Phishing Actors! | Phish Protection"
description: "Seoul Witnesses a Coalition Against Increasing Phishing Actors!: emailsecurity · Seoul Witnesses a Coalition Against Increasing Phishing Actors! Phishing."
image: "https://phishprotection.com/og/blog/seoul-witnesses-a-coalition-against-increasing-phishing-actors.png"
canonical: "https://phishprotection.com/blog/seoul-witnesses-a-coalition-against-increasing-phishing-actors/"
---

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emailsecurity · Seoul Witnesses a Coalition Against Increasing Phishing Actors! Phishing scams have become commonplace and have intruded into our everyday lives in ways beyond our imagination. Commoners, as well as A-listers across the globe, have fallen prey to phishing scams.

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[emailsecurity](https://soundcloud.com/phishprotection) · [Seoul Witnesses a Coalition Against Increasing Phishing Actors!](https://soundcloud.com/phishprotection/seoul-witnesses-a-coalition-against-increasing-phishing-actors)

Phishing scams have become commonplace and have intruded into our everyday lives in ways beyond our imagination. Commoners, as well as **A-listers across the globe**, have fallen prey to [phishing scams](https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/phishing-scams-targets-ozempic/).

The commotion against [threat actors](/phishing/threat-actor-entices-eu-diplomats-with-fake-wine-tasting-invitation) and scamsters has been increasing for some time now. From [cybersecurity](/content/cybersecurity-in-a-nutshell) experts to laymen, more and more people are coming together to spread awareness against phishing activities .

In one such instance, Korean celebrities have come together to urge Meta and YouTube to prevent these menacing scams. These Korean TV celebrities have formed a group named **Group for Resolving Online Phishing Crimes**.

### Seoul Waging a War Against Threat Actors!

On 22nd March, Friday, this coalition of Korean A-listers held a **press conference** where they discussed the gravity of phishing crimes. The ultimate motive behind organizing the press conference was to request the government, as well as social media biggies like [YouTube and Meta, to take things into their own hands](https://www.sentinelassam.com/more-news/science-and-technology/youtube-meta-must-act-against-online-phishing-scams-south-korean-television-celebrities).

They shed light on how effortlessly threat actors have created a ruckus by [impersonating popular Korean celebs](https://www.mcall.com/2024/02/11/police-celebrity-impersonator-scam/) recently. According to this group, the threat actors purposely target **famous and influential Korean celebs** and impersonate them to extract money from people under the pretext of investments .

They have openly criticized the **incapacity and negligence** of social media giants like Meta, YouTube, and [Kakaotalk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KakaoTalk) in controlling these phishing scams. _The group has been demanding stringent actions and fail-proof strategies to keep threat actors at bay_.

### The Ground Reality

The Group for Resolving Online Phishing Crimes backed its claims up with police data. It mentioned that between September and December 2023, [1000+ financial fraud scam cases](https://www.koreanewsgazette.com/south-korean-celebrities-urge-social-media-giants-to-combat-online-phishing-scams/) were registered. These phishing scams led to a financial loss of a whopping USD 89.7 million .

_Besides financial damages, the impersonation scams also impact the **reputation and mental peace** of the affected celebs and influential figures._

That’s exactly why the group is demanding swift and strict action against the [phishing actors](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240124266138/en/Browser-Based-Phishing-Attacks-Increased-198-in-2023-as-Threat-Actors-Grow-More-Evasive-Menlo-Security-Research-Finds). They are requesting the social media giants and relevant authorities to come up with **effective preventive measures**.

![Phishing Statistics For](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2024/04/Phishing-Statistics-For-2024.jpg) 

### Impersonation Scams Plaguing Korean Stars!

BTS, the popular K-pop band, is taking the world by storm with its music, moves, and looks. However, it has also **become the target of scammers**. Over the last year, BTS has faced numerous [impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#:~:text=Scammers%20impersonate%20trusted%20businesses%2C%20friends,%2C%20and%20well%2Dknown%20businesses.), and that’s when it decided to make its fans aware of the ongoing mess.

In **August 2023**, BigHit Music, their agency, [issued a loud and clear statement](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/korean/bts-label-issues-warning-against-financial-fraud-and-artist-impersonation/articleshow/102799277.cms) with the sole purpose of warning their fans against fraudulent scams. They urged people not to believe in any communication which is not directly coming through the official channels.

_In another similar incident, a Youngsville-based lady ended up with an empty bank account and a broken heart._ Just like any other woman, she was in **search of Mr. Right** and ended up looking for love in the wrong place.

One fine day, she connected with someone who she thought to be the **OG Ahn Hyo-Seop**, the popular K-drama actor. Soon, she started falling for him, and Ahn, too, showed interest in a meet-up. She received an email from his so-called business manager stating that she would have to pay [$18,500](https://abc11.com/romance-scam-swindled-nc-love-connection-kpop-paul-ahan-impersonator/14415628/) to meet the sensational pop star.

Even though she got a confirmation mail, the **ordeal did not stop there**. They asked for $39,500 more as an expense for Ahn’s jet and five security bodyguards.

Blinded by love, she **ignored all the red flags** and spent over $67,000 in total to meet Ahn. Not only she emptied her retirement fund but also took loans from two different banks. The audacious [scammer](https://www.koreaboo.com/news/scammers-investigation-using-bts-fraudery-3-billion-won/) asked for more money on the day of the meet-up and finally the lady saw the red flag and refused to pay further. That’s when the scammer put an end to their virtual relationship and left her broke, **both financially and emotionally**.

In February 2024, another impersonation scam came to daylight when a 57-year-old lady complained about a scammer who duped her [$16000](https://www.mcall.com/2024/02/11/police-celebrity-impersonator-scam/) by **impersonating** none other than the K-pop superstar Eun-Woo.

The naive lady from Northampton County thought that she was actually interacting with the OG Eun Woo and thus she sent her Bitcoins worth $16k. She also shared her **bank details and identity-related data**.

![Anti phishing service](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2023/05/anti-phishing-service-0694.jpg) 

### Google And Meta Assured to Take Apt Actions!

[Google](https://www.koreanewsgazette.com/south-korean-celebrities-urge-social-media-giants-to-combat-online-phishing-scams/), through a spokesperson, has assured that [cyber safety](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cyber-safety) is one of its biggest priorities, and it has policies in place to curb [phishing menaces](/phishing/phishing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-google). He further said that they are quite proactive when it comes to violating ads and offending claims .

[Meta](https://www.koreanewsgazette.com/south-korean-celebrities-urge-social-media-giants-to-combat-online-phishing-scams/), too, has guaranteed a **sureshot strategy** on Instagram and Facebook to [safeguard users](/phishing-awareness/schoolyard-bully-trojan-targeting-global-android-devices-steals-facebook-logins) against phishing activities.

The fact that even the most **high-profile figures** across the world are not safe against scammers is indeed a cause of concern for laymen as well!

It underscores the importance of robust [phishing protection](/) measures and [phishing awareness training](/products/phishing-awareness-training) for individuals and organizations alike, including **staying vigilant** against [suspicious emails](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/tech/uae-residents-urged-to-stay-vigilant-amid-cyber-threats-tips-to-spot-phishing-emails) and employing [multi-factor authentication](/phishing/latest-phishing-campaign-targeting-microsoft-proves-multi-factor-authentication-risky-organizations).

## Topics

[ Phishing ](/tags/phishing/) 

![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/authors/brad-slavin.jpg) 

[ Brad Slavin ](/authors/brad-slavin/) 

General Manager

Founder and General Manager of DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across DuoCircle's 2,000+ customer base.

[LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin) 

## Protect your inbox from phishing attacks

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