Clicking the link leads to digital asset theft

Unauthorized access suspected on SMS service account

[Reuters]
[Reuters]

Police have launched an investigation after smishing texts impersonating a digital asset wallet update were sent en masse to more than 260,000 people.

According to the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, the messages were sent to an unspecified number of recipients Saturday at around 10:48 a.m., prompting them to install what appeared to be a digital asset wallet update. About 260,000 messages were sent in total.

Anyone who clicked the link embedded in the text was directed to a smishing scheme designed to steal their digital assets.

Police believe an outsider gained unauthorized access to an SMS service account used by the marketing department of a shopping complex in Sasang-gu, Busan, and sent the messages through it.

The shopping complex had been using the service to send customers notifications about discount events and other promotions.

After receiving reports, police obtained records of the messages sent through the service provider and blocked access to the compromised account.

Police are now tracking whoever gained unauthorized access to the account while also investigating the full extent of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the incident.


kyoung@heraldcorp.com