Fake Mail Notices Used to Demand Cryptocurrency in ‘Letter Phishing’ Scam

A so-called "letter phishing" scam is spreading in which fraudsters post fake mail delivery notices outside homes, induce victims to call, and then demand virtual assets, or cryptocurrencies.

According to the National Police Agency and other authorities on September 26, cases have emerged in some areas in which scammers distributed fake mail-arrival notices in bulk and then impersonated investigative authorities to demand money from people who contacted them after seeing the notices.

The method is known as letter phishing. It is a voice-phishing scam in which fraudsters attach fake notices resembling Korea Post mail-arrival slips to front doors or place them in mailboxes to prompt victims to make contact.

When a victim calls the number listed on the notice, the scammer poses as a mail carrier and says they will provide the contact information of the person in charge, directing the victim to call another number. The fraudster on that line then impersonates a prosecutor or another investigative official, falsely claims the victim's name or bank account has been linked to a crime, and persuades the victim to install a malicious application before demanding cash, gift certificates or virtual assets.