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Is That Call Really Real? An 8-Step Way to Check for Yourself

Updated 10/11/2026
Is That Call Really Real? An 8-Step Way to Check for Yourself

If someone claiming to be the prosecutor or your bank calls, hang up and verify using a number you found yourself.

You can't tell a voice phishing call from a real one by how convincing the caller sounds. Scammers sometimes recite an agency's name, your full name, your birth date, even part of your account number, so knowing a lot about you proves nothing. That is exactly where most people get confused.

This list organizes what to do first and where to check when a suspicious call or text arrives. Each entry covers the warning signs, what to do now, which official channel to use, and what to have ready. The order reflects how common each situation is and how early you should act.

How to read this list

  • On the phone right now? Start at No. 1: hanging up comes before any check.
  • Asked to send money? Look at Nos. 2 and 4 first.
  • Asked to tap a link or install an app? Go to Nos. 6 and 7.
  • Already gave out information? See No. 8 for what to note down.

Procedures and phone numbers can change, so confirm the latest guidance before acting. (Checked August 2026.)

01

Hang Up and Verify Independently

<p>If someone tries to keep you on the line by citing an investigation, a security issue, or an overdue payment, that alone is a warning sign. Hang up, then call back using an official number you found yourself, not one the caller gave you. Official guidance from bodies like the Joint Response Center for Telecom Financial Fraud puts independent verification first. Don't match the caller's urgent tone, and look up the number you'll need before a call ever happens.</p>
Hang Up and Verify Independently
02

Ask 112 About Impersonation

<p>If someone claiming to be from the prosecutor's office, police, or a financial institution asks you to transfer money, call 112 right away from a separate, trusted phone. Jotting down the claimed agency, the person's name, and the account and request they gave you speeds up the consultation. If things feel urgent, though, reporting comes before organizing notes. If you've already sent money, it matters to say so without delay.</p>
Ask 112 About Impersonation
03

Compare Against Known Scam Patterns

<p>Be wary if someone tries to isolate you from everyone else with talk of arrest, seizure, or a confidential investigation. Comparing what you heard with the typical patterns in police prevention materials can help you judge the call. But don't assume you're safe just because the wording or method differs a little. Tactics keep changing, so treat the comparison as a reference and make the final call by verifying independently.</p>
Compare Against Known Scam Patterns
04

Confirm via the Bank's Official Number

<p>If you're told your account is tied to a crime and asked to move funds to a safe account, call the bank's official number printed on your card or passbook yourself. You can also check a financial company's real number through the FSS's FINE lookup service. Never trust a request to send money to an individual under the name of a safe or protected account. Calling a number from a text or from the caller may connect you to the same group.</p>
Confirm via the Bank's Official Number
05

Verify Family Claims via Known Numbers

<p>If a supposed relative asks for money from a new number after a broken phone or an accident, don't settle for a messenger reply. Call the number you already have saved and confirm directly. If the person avoids talking and only pushes urgently by text, be even more suspicious. Asking another family member too makes your judgment more reliable. Hearing a voice before you send anything is the simplest defense there is.</p>
Verify Family Claims via Known Numbers
06

Refuse Link or App Install Requests

<p>If you're asked to click a link or install an app for a case lookup or security check, don't tap it, and keep the text and sender details exactly as they are. Even when it's described as a verification tool, the rule is not to install it; if you're unsure, you can ask KISA for help. An installed app may access information on your device, so if you've already tapped it, tell a consultation channel without delay.</p>
Refuse Link or App Install Requests
07

Consult 118 on Suspected Smishing

<p>If a link in a text looks like an official page and you can't tell, don't open it. Consult KISA's 118 hotline first, with the sender's number, the wording, and the URL ready to speed things up. Scam texts often pose as ordinary notices such as parcel delivery, health checkups, or fines, so it's safer to be suspicious of any link from an unknown number. Even just to check is not a good reason to open it.</p>
Consult 118 on Suspected Smishing
08

Stop Providing Personal Information

<p>If you're being asked, one piece at a time, for your resident registration number, a verification code, or a photo of your ID, stop providing anything right now. Even if you've already handed some of it over, don't hide it. Note what you gave, when, and how it was sent, so you can report it accurately. It helps to remember that no real agency asks for a verification code by phone. Don't be embarrassed; tell someone close to you first.</p>
Stop Providing Personal Information

How to choose

If you are on a call or just hung up, start with No. 1, Hang Up and Verify Independently. If you were told to send money, read No. 2 (asking 112) and No. 4 (the bank's official number) together. If someone claiming to be family asks for money, No. 5, calling the saved number, is your test. Link and app requests belong to Nos. 6 and 7, and if you've already handed over information, go to No. 8.

The common thread is the same in every case: verify with a number you found yourself, not one the caller gave you, and slow down when someone pushes you to hurry. Pressure to act immediately is itself a warning sign. If you feel doubt, don't decide alone; tell a family member or someone close right away.

The information here reflects the time of research, and agency procedures and numbers may change, so confirm through official channels before acting.

Frequently asked questions

If the caller knows my personal details accurately, doesn't that mean it's real?

No. Callers sometimes use leaked personal data to state your name, birth date, or even part of your account number accurately. The test isn't how much they know. It's whether you can verify it independently.

I hung up, but they're calling back. What now?

Don't answer, or hang up again, and if needed, report the number to 112 or KISA's 118 hotline for guidance. Repeated calls from the same number are reason enough to be suspicious on their own.

Can I confirm a text pretending to be from family by calling?

Yes, but call the number already saved in your contacts, not the new one in the text. Checking with another family member too makes it more reliable.

Can I trust a request to move money to a safe account?

No. Don't trust any request to send money to an individual under the name of a safe or protected account. Call the bank's official number printed on your card or passbook to check directly.

What if I already tapped a suspicious link or installed an app?

Stop going further, keep the text and sender details exactly as they are, and consult KISA's 118 hotline or 112. Don't hide it; noting what you did and when helps with the response afterward.

A link in a text looks like an official page. Is it okay to open it?

Even if it's framed as just checking, opening it yourself isn't safe. Gather the sender's number, the wording, and the URL, and consult KISA's 118 hotline first.

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Voice Phishing Call Check: An 8-Step Verification Guide | Golladream