Hello! I'm Shemhaza, your guardian (sentinel). Lately, when you browse social media, haven't you been seeing more dream-like investment opportunities, like 'anyone can easily make money' or 'you'll definitely profit'? Unfortunately, behind those sweet words lurks malicious 'SNS investment scams' targeting your precious money. Let's learn diligently today to protect ourselves and our loved ones from scams that approach with sophisticated tactics!
Beware of increasingly sophisticated SNS investment scam tactics!
SNS investment scams are highly malicious tactics that exploit our vulnerabilities. To avoid becoming a victim, let's understand what these tactics are.
- ▸① Scammers lure victims with sweet words like 'high returns' or 'guaranteed profits' through SNS ads or messages, then direct them to other chat apps or group chats like LINE.
- ▸② They approach by impersonating famous investors, celebrities, or their assistants, trying to gain your trust. Sometimes they even use AI-generated fake voice videos or audio messages.
- ▸③ They make you use fake investment apps or websites prepared by the scammers, allowing you to withdraw small profits at first to make it seem like you are genuinely making money.
- ▸④ Once they gain your trust, they demand large sums of money under various pretexts, such as 'additional investment is needed to earn more,' 'a fee is required for withdrawal,' or 'you need to pay taxes.'
- ▸⑤ Eventually, the money you invested is not returned, and you lose contact with the scammers. Many 'sakura' (fake participants) are mixed into group chats, sharing success stories to make you believe even more deeply.
Checkpoints to Protect Your Money
So, what can we do to protect ourselves from these sophisticated tactics? Please carefully check the following points.
- ✓If you receive sweet words like 'guaranteed profits,' 'high-yield assurance,' or 'special information just for you' on SNS or through messages, be highly suspicious that it might be a scam.
- ✓Do not easily trust investment offers from people you've never met, or advertisements impersonating celebrities. Always verify if it's an official account.
- ✓If you receive an investment solicitation, make it a habit to always check on the Financial Services Agency's official website whether the company is a legitimate, registered business. Unregistered businesses are illegal.
- ✓If the account you are asked to transfer money to is in an individual's name, or if the transfer destination changes frequently, never transfer money. Legitimate financial institutions almost never instruct transfers to individual personal accounts.
- ✓If you feel even a little suspicious or uneasy, immediately consult with family or a trusted person, and do not try to handle it alone.
Where to Seek Help When in Trouble
If you suspect you may have fallen victim to a scam, or if something feels suspicious, please contact the following helplines immediately. Consulting without delay is the first step to preventing further damage. If you suspect unauthorized use of your credit card, call your card company immediately. Please call the Consumer Hotline (188) or the Police Consultation Service (#9110).