How does the LG Uplus and Woori Bank voice-phishing prevention service work?

ixi-O analyzes calls in real time and sends risk information to Woori Bank when it detects a suspicious conversation. The bank then applies its fraud-detection system to monitor the customer for unusual transactions and can take protective measures under its internal procedures.

Why did LG Uplus and Woori Bank create a joint voice-phishing detection system?

Existing bank defenses have largely examined transaction data after or near the time of an account transfer, making it difficult to identify warning signs before money moves. Sharing telecom call-risk information with the bank allows suspicious calls and transaction behavior to be considered together.

What will LG Uplus do next with its voice-phishing prevention technology?

LG Uplus plans to extend the real-time service to other financial companies. It is also considering alerts to a guardian registered in advance when a risky call is detected, so family members can help protect vulnerable customers.

LG Uplus, Woori Bank team up to spot voice phishing calls in real time

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Summary

LG Uplus and Woori Bank launched a real-time voice-phishing prevention service in Korea. The ixi-O AI call app flags suspicious calls and sends risk information to Woori Bank, which monitors subsequent transactions for abnormal patterns. The bank may require additional identity verification or notify customers before fraudulent transfers proceed. LG Uplus plans to expand the service to other financial firms and may add guardian alerts.

Key Facts

The service detects whether customers spoke with numbers suspected of phishing, used phones infected with malicious apps or received calls using AI-altered voices.
LG Uplus and Woori Bank signed an agreement on voice-phishing prevention in August last year and shared information through a working-level group.
The companies built the real-time connection after conducting a pilot program and technical testing.
LG Uplus is considering a feature that would notify a guardian registered in advance when a risky call is detected.

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Published Oct 6, 2026 12:32 pm KST

An LG Uplus worker promotes the mobile carrier's joint project with Woori Bank that alerts the lender in real time when a customer receives a suspected voice phishing call. Courtesy of LG UPlus

Mobile carrier LG Uplus has partnered with Woori Bank to feed real-time scam alerts to the lender, helping block fraudulent wire transfers while victims are still on the line with voice phishing scammers.

Voice phishing refers to phone scams in which callers pose as prosecutors, police or bank employees to trick victims into transferring money.

Under the service, ixi-O, the mobile carrier's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered call app, flags a suspicious call and sends the risk information to the bank. Woori Bank then steps up monitoring of the customer through its fraud detection system, which screens transactions for abnormal patterns.

If a suspicious transaction follows, the bank will take protective steps under its internal procedures, such as additional identity verification or a notice to the customer, LG Uplus said.

The company said banks' anti-phishing efforts have focused on transaction data such as account transfers, making it difficult to catch warning signs before money moves. Those signs include whether a customer spoke with a number suspected of phishing, had a phone infected with a malicious app or took a call using an AI-altered voice.

The two companies signed an agreement on preventing voice phishing in August last year and have since shared information on new fraud methods through a working-level group. They built the real-time link after a pilot run and technical testing, LG Uplus said.

The carrier plans to extend the service to other financial firms. It is also considering a feature that would notify a guardian registered in advance when a risky call is detected, with the aim of protecting customers' family members as well.

Voice phishing begins with a phone call and ends in financial loss, so telecom companies and financial firms must respond together for prevention to work, an LG Uplus executive said.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

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