Scams Exploiting Use of Cell Phone Remote Services

“Your personal information has been released. Failure to subscribe to the X-rated Internet site I’ve mentioned and pay the fee immediately will result in blockage of your cell phone.”

A 42-year-old urban worker, identified only as Hwang, got this message from an unidentified person this month. He considered it a nuisance and hung up, but then his cell phone could not connect to its wireless network.

Feeling confused, Hwang felt he had no choice but to join the site and pay the subscription fee of 80,000 won.

After reporting the case to the Korea Information Security Agency, the victim found out con artists employed a new type of voice phishing in which they illegally exploited remote control services and deceived handset users.

Remote control services are designed to help subscribers register, change, and cancel services via a phone call to service providers. Most users use the last four digits of their cell phone numbers as passwords instead of creating new numbers. The new phishing scam targets handset users who do not change their passwords.

Since Hwang kept the same password when he subscribed to the service, the swindler was able to block his cell phone calls.

The security agency said, “A few similar cases have been reported, but we’re worried that more people will be conned by the new voice phishing as many mobile phone users have subscribed to remote control service.”

More than 870,000 people subscribe to the remote control service of SK Telecom, the nation’s largest wireless service provider. In addition, 5,000 subscribers of LG Telecom and 1,000 of KTF use remote control services every month.

LG helps subscribers of remote control services with call blocking and forwarding. KTF offers voice mail and call rejection while SK provides call waiting and forwarding.

Wireless carriers said that since they provide many services, they generally use the last four digits of mobile phone numbers as passwords to help subscribers better remember the numbers.

The security agency said, “Subscribers can significantly protect themselves from swindlers if they just change their passwords in advance. If handset users get similar phone calls, they should unlock cell phones at customer service centers and sellers of wireless service and report them to the agency (www.1336.or.kr).”

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