Victims 5,000, 4.9 Billion Won Embezzled... 30 Members of Online Used Goods Fraud Gang Arrested

"Posting Nude Photos Will Get Your Money Back" Mocking Victims

On the 21st, the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Jeju Provincial Police Agency forwarded 14 individuals, including Kang Mo (38), to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment and detention on charges of fraudulently obtaining tens of billions of won by deceiving people into buying used goods. Additionally, 16 others were forwarded without detention on the same charges.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A group of about 30 people who carried out online used goods fraud involving tens of billions of won over seven years targeting more than 5,000 victims have been arrested by the police. They even mocked victims who demanded their money back by saying, "If you post naked photos, we will return the money."

On the 21st, the Cyber Investigation Unit of Jeju Provincial Police Agency sent 14 people, including Kang (38), to the prosecution with a request for detention on charges of fraudulently obtaining tens of billions of won by pretending to sell used goods. The remaining 16 were sent without detention on the same charges.

Kang and others are accused of deceiving 5,092 people into buying items such as mobile homes, home appliances, and gift certificates on online used goods marketplaces from July 31, 2014, to January 18 of this year, embezzling a total of about 4.9 billion won.

Each victim suffered damages ranging from as little as 40,000 won to as much as 30 million won. The group falsely registered non-existent stores on portal sites and used forged IDs and business registration certificates. They also attracted victims by offering low prices and saying, "If you don't buy now, I will sell it to someone else."

The gang's office was located in the Philippines, and they received money through mule bank accounts. They evaded police investigations by laundering profits through virtual currencies or overseas exchanges.

In particular, to prevent victims from reporting the fraud, they used personal information of victims learned during the scam to threaten them.

They ordered food worth hundreds of thousands of won to be delivered to victims' addresses or posted victims' contact information on online free sharing boards, causing dozens of phone calls. When victims demanded their money back, they even requested nude photos.

It was confirmed that they used the profits to drive foreign luxury cars and invest in real estate in the Philippines.

After tracking for over two years, the police arrested 30 out of about 40 members of the online goods fraud organization. The remaining 10 are on Interpol's red notice.

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