Minors and Public Officials Leak False Information and Personal Data... 'Mask Scam' Damage Amounts to 200 Million Won (Comprehensive)

Police Investigate 116 Cases Related to 'Novel Coronavirus'
Consider Detention for Malicious and Organized Crimes

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A minor who spread false information about a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) has been apprehended by the police. Investigations are also actively underway to catch groups involved in fraud exploiting the mask shortage. On the 6th, the National Police Agency announced that it had apprehended 8 cases of spreading false and manipulated information and personal data related to the novel coronavirus online, and is investigating 20 other cases.

False Information Rampant About ‘Neglect of Suspected Infected Persons’

As of this day, the police have apprehended suspects or identified incidents involving 6 cases of spreading false information and 2 cases of personal data leakage. The police secured the custody of a minor who spread false information, impersonating terrestrial news, claiming that a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus had occurred at a high school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. In Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, the first person who spread false information on a Naver cafe stating that ‘there is a suspected infected person in a nursing hospital, but the hospital is neglecting and blocking reports’ was booked by the police.

In Sokcho, Gangwon Province, a person who first spread false information in a group chat room claiming ‘two suspected novel coronavirus infected patients are hospitalized’ was booked on charges of obstruction of business and sent to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. In addition, investigations are ongoing for 20 cases including smishing text messages disguised as confirmed patient information. It is known that these smishing messages do not contain malicious code. The police are focusing their investigative efforts on identifying the background of the distribution of these smishing messages.

New Coronavirus Smishing Text Message.

Public Officials Leak Personal Information Externally

The police identified two leakers in the case where the document titled ‘Report on Contacts of Confirmed Novel Coronavirus Patients’ created at the Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center in Seoul on the 30th of last month was distributed on social network services (SNS) and other platforms. They are reported to be health-related workers. Around the same time, a report titled ‘Status of Novel Coronavirus Infection Targets’ created by the Gyeongnam Provincial Office was distributed on Naver cafes, and the public official who first leaked it to the public has been identified and is under investigation.

In Busan, an incident occurred where the personal information of a patient who came to report to the public health center due to suspected infection was leaked within three hours. Although the patient tested negative, the personal information had already spread widely. The initial leaker is suspected to be a police officer. If personal information of contacts or suspected persons, not confirmed patients, spreads, it can cause serious disadvantages to the individual. Leakage of personal information by public officials who must maintain confidentiality in their duties is pointed out to cause even greater confusion.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

‘Mask Fraud’ Confirmed Damage Amounts to 200 Million KRW

The police have also launched investigations into 96 cases of fraud crimes exploiting the mask shortage. In Seoul, an incident occurred where someone deceived others by claiming to sell 90,000 hygiene masks and embezzled 90 million KRW. Similar frauds occurred in Chungnam and Incheon, with amounts of 19.7 million KRW and 77 million KRW respectively. The Gimpo Police Station in Gyeonggi Province is also investigating 13 mask fraud cases, with damages amounting to approximately 9.7 million KRW.

The National Police Agency has designated these four jurisdictions as responsible investigative offices and is pursuing the fraudsters. The police believe the scale of mask fraud could increase further.

Malicious and Organized Crimes May Lead to Detention Investigations

The police plan to maintain a strict response policy, judging that crimes related to the novel coronavirus situation cause public anxiety. Recently, National Police Commissioner Min Gap-ryong instructed frontline police officers, saying, “Producing and spreading false and manipulated information causes public anxiety and social confusion,” and “Conduct continuous monitoring and respond strictly, and firmly investigate hoarding and sales fraud of masks exploiting public anxiety.”

The National Police Agency operates a ‘Cyber Countermeasure Situation Room,’ dispatches investigators to the Central Accident Response Headquarters, and focuses on preventing the spread of fake news by requesting deletion or blocking from the Korea Communications Standards Commission or site operators when false information is found. As of 6 p.m. on the 4th, 160 posts have been addressed. They also plan to track and apprehend not only the original producers of false information but also intermediate distributors. If malicious and organized acts are revealed, detention investigations will be considered.

A National Police Agency official emphasized, “Even acts out of simple curiosity, pranks, or imitation can be subject to legal action, so special caution is requested,” and “We ask the public to actively report false and manipulated information to the police, Ministry of Health and Welfare, local governments, and related agencies.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.