A friend secretly used my resident registration number to open a mobile phone line and failed to pay the charges. Is this not personal information theft? How should I respond?

Hello. This is an attorney experienced in IT cases at Daeryun Law Firm.

Unfortunately, the case you described is in fact a frequently occurring case of personal information theft.

Cases in which, as in yours, a resident registration number or a copy of an identification card is leaked through an acquaintance and another person secretly opens or contracts for financial or telecommunications services are regarded as cases of personal information theft.

If you did not actually conclude the contract and the identity theft is proven, there is no legal liability for the relevant charges.

However, in order not to pay the relevant charges, an active response is necessary to prove the fact of personal information theft.

In addition, if you lent your name to another person to open a mobile phone line and provided it for telecommunications use, the charge of a violation of the Telecommunications Business Act may apply, so there is a need to demonstrate that your identity was stolen without your knowledge.

Your friend's act is a crime of obtaining economic benefit by using another person's personal information without that person's consent, so it is possible to submit a criminal complaint to the police station on charges such as forgery of a private document, uttering of a forged private document, and a violation of the Resident Registration Act.

First, you should report the identity theft to the telecommunications company, then submit a criminal complaint to the police station and claim civil damages.

If necessary, Daeryun Law Firm will accompany you through the derived legal procedures, such as preparing the criminal complaint for this matter.

In particular, Daeryun has relevant expertise, including being on the verge of filing a class action regarding the recent SKT personal information leak incident.

If you need a consultation, please make a reservation for a legal consultation at any time.