Author(s): Yeon-Jun Choi, Julak Lee
This study aims to figure out the change in the techniques of smishing in South Korea after the onset of COVID-19 by identifying smishing modus operandi. Smishing is a serious SMS fraud in which criminals achieve profits by deceiving victims through SMS. Even though the damage of smishing is increasing each day after the onset of COVID-19, there are few papers on the change in the smishing methods after COVID-19. To fill this gap, the researchers collected smishing cases online and employed content analysis and crime script analysis to figure out the modus operandi of smishing in detail. The researchers classified the types of smishing after the start of COVID-19 by utilizing content analysis and identified the progress of smishing through crime script analysis. The findings demonstrated that the modus operandi of smishing in South Korea after COVID-19 consists of pre-preparation, preparation of smishing attack, sending of smishing message, downloading of malicious application onto victims’ smartphone & theft of victims’ information and storing it, attempt at financial gain through utilization of attained victims’ information, charging of transaction/payments to the victims.