Choseok is just around the corner. Did you know that you need to be even more careful than usual with text messages arriving ahead of the holiday?

This is because bait text messages designed to exploit the holiday mood to steal personal or financial information may increase.

Typical examples include messages like "Your gift has arrived, please enter your delivery information" or "Choseok event."

These messages can induce you to enter addresses or account numbers, or trick you into installing malicious apps to steal personal and financial information.

In severe cases, it can lead to additional damage, such as remote-controlling your mobile phone or sending illegal spam without the user's knowledge.

For text messages containing internet addresses from unknown sources, it is safe to verify their legitimacy first.

In addition, suspicious text messages can be checked through the "Smishing" menu on KakaoTalk's "Bodonara" channel, and illegal spam can be reported via the mobile phone quick-reporting service or the 118 consultation center.