Korean celebrities lose millions to phone scams, fueling fears over rising phishing crimes

From left, Ji Seok-jin, Bae Jung-nam and Lee Mi-sook / Xportsnews

A series of shocking revelations about celebrity victims of phone and online scams has sparked alarm in Korea, where phishing crimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and costly.

During a Monday episode of the YouTube show “Jodongari,” entertainer Ji Seok-jin revealed that one of his celebrity acquaintances lost 300 million won ($220,000) to a voice phishing scam. “They’re a very smart person, but they were told to click a website link — and once they did, it looked completely legitimate. They’re the kind of person you’d think would never fall for it,” Ji said, highlighting how advanced such schemes have become.

Ji also shared his own close call. “About 15 years ago, someone impersonating broadcaster Kim Gura asked me to send 2 million won. I almost fell for it,” he said.

Other celebrities have not been so lucky. Actor Bae Jung-nam confessed on the SBS show “My Little Old Boy” in February that he was scammed out of 4.5 million won during an online secondhand purchase. “I told the scammer, ‘I know I’ve been conned — if you return even half, I won’t report you,’ but he just left the chat,” he recalled.

Veteran actress Lee Mi-sook also suffered a devastating loss. “My bank account was drained — I lost between 50 and 60 million won. The hacker even made card payments through my phone for four hours overnight,” she said, adding that the experience left her so traumatized she now avoids online transactions entirely.

Experts warn that phishing scams are becoming more elaborate, often mimicking real websites, impersonating trusted figures, or exploiting social engineering tactics. With damages ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, authorities and cybersecurity experts are urging the public to exercise heightened caution.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.