Ulsan Nambu Fire Station warned Wednesday that scams involving individuals impersonating firefighters and public officials to trick people into purchasing goods have become increasingly frequent. The station said it is receiving as many as five to six suspected impersonation calls per day in Ulsan's Nam-gu district alone.
According to the fire station, the primary method involves scammers forging official documents or misusing employee business cards to pose as active public servants and gain trust. They then introduce specific vendors via text messages and pressure victims into purchasing goods through proxy buying schemes or bank transfer requests.
Some scammers also demand urgent purchases by claiming that "recent revisions to fire safety laws now impose fines for buildings without proper fire safety equipment." Others deceive citizens by falsely stating that "if you purchase the items first and send the receipt, the fire station will provide a full refund."
"Fire stations never sell products, and any request for cash or bank transfers is 100% a scam," a Nambu Fire Station official said. "We urge citizens to ask for the visitor's affiliation and name, and immediately call the local fire station's main number to verify the department, the person in charge, and the details of the matter."