SK Telecom is strengthening its anti-fraud capabilities by introducing a new “Family Care” feature to its AI-based calling service, A.Dot Call, aimed at preventing voice phishing scams in real time.
The company said the feature will notify pre-registered family members or guardians immediately when AI detects suspicious patterns during a call, allowing third parties to intervene before potential fraud occurs.
Voice phishing crimes have been on the rise in South Korea. According to data from the National Police Agency, there were 5,878 cases reported in the first quarter of 2025, up 17% year-on-year. The average loss per case surged 188% to approximately 53 million won. Scammers often impersonate law enforcement or financial institutions, or fabricate emergencies involving family members, making it difficult for individuals to respond alone.
SK Telecom said the new feature is designed to address this challenge by enabling early intervention. When suspicious activity is detected during a call, alerts are sent instantly to designated contacts via text messages or notifications, regardless of whether they use the same carrier or app.
Users can register up to 10 guardians, including family members and acquaintances. For SK Telecom subscribers, family group information is automatically suggested for easier setup, while additional contacts can be added manually to expand the protection network. Activation requires user consent for data sharing and enabling AI detection functions.
The feature also extends to emergency situations. On Android devices, attempts to call emergency numbers such as 112 or 119 will trigger alerts to registered guardians, providing additional safety coverage.
A.Dot Call already offers end-to-end protection against spam and voice phishing, covering pre-call, in-call, and post-call stages. Through its “AI Safe Block” system, the service blocked approximately 35.6 million suspected calls in the first quarter alone, while issuing millions of caution alerts at the incoming call stage. The system continues to improve detection accuracy using voiceprint data analysis.
An SK Telecom official said the company introduced the feature to enable coordinated responses between users, families, and technology in high-risk situations, adding that it will continue to enhance everyday safety through AI-driven services.
