Reports of suspected personal customs clearance code misuse rose from 1,502 in 2022 to 71,440 last year, an increase of about 46 times. The Korea Customs Service recorded 29,350 suspected cases through July this year, already exceeding the 2022 total, while unrecognized customs messages followed by parcels from AliExpress or Temu can be warning signs.
With November shopping events approaching, consumers should check unfamiliar notifications and shipments because another person’s use of the code can connect their name to unrequested goods or tax liabilities.