Alert issued against 'MERS' voice phishing
By Lee Kyung-min
The Ministry of Health and Welfare issued an alert Sunday against voice phishing scams that exploit public fears about the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
According to a complaint filed with 109 MERS hotline, the scammers impersonate a ministry official making a call or sending text messages to those quarantined saying each receiver is eligible for an emergency government subsidy program.
They cite the ministry’s emergency measures, effective since June 10 which provides up to 1.1 million won ($984) to households with income earners who are currently banned from going to work after being quarantined.
They then offer to make immediate cash transfers asking for bank account numbers and resident registration numbers, the ministry said.
Any text messages or attached files on cell phones should be deleted immediately without clicking to prevent the possible installation of malware such as remote control software, the ministry cautioned.
In a worst case scenario, information of personal authentication certificate stored in the device might be compromised.
“The ministry officials do not make calls offering cash transfers,” a ministry official said.
The subsidy is only provided for those who request it using ministry hotline 129, after a verification process, he added.
“The only calls we currently make are to check the physical condition of those infected with MERS virus symptoms, including coughing and fever,” the ministry official said.