Leader of Philippine-based Fraud Organization Repatriated to Korea... Embezzled 13.4 Billion Won Through Fake Sales Posts

33 Organization Members Assigned Roles in Money Laundering and Bank Account Recruitment
Mask Purchase During First COVID-19 Wave
Police International Cooperation Shines... Arrested and Transferred in 3 Months

Mr. A, the ringleader of a fraud organization who embezzled 13.4 billion KRW while based in the Philippines, is being escorted into the country through Incheon International Airport on the 8th. / Photo by the National Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The ringleader of a fraud organization that operated out of the Philippines, impersonating merchandise sellers and causing damages exceeding 13 billion KRW, was forcibly repatriated to South Korea on the 8th. The National Police Agency announced that Mr. A, who was apprehended in the Philippines early that morning, was escorted to Incheon International Airport.

According to the police, Mr. A and 33 other members of the organization are accused of posting online advertisements selling various items such as automobile parts and gaming consoles from December 2016 to March of this year, then taking money without delivering the goods, defrauding 285 victims of 13.4 billion KRW. In particular, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic from January to March this year, they deceived victims by pretending to sell KF94 masks, causing fraud damages exceeding 1.5 billion KRW. The organization members meticulously divided roles such as money laundering, recruiting and managing bank accounts, and providing accounts for criminal activities. Among them, 20 members were arrested by the police between March and May this year, but the key ringleader Mr. A had fled to the Philippines.

The arrest of Mr. A was greatly aided by international cooperation by the police, especially the efforts of the 'Korean Desk' established in the Philippines to support the safety of overseas Koreans, recover crime damages, and protect the Korean community. Due to the impact of COVID-19, widespread quarantine measures were in place in the Philippine community, and the suspected hiding area of the suspect was broad, making it time-consuming to pinpoint his exact location. However, the Korean Desk collaborated with local judicial authorities to track Mr. A’s movements over three months, identified his residence, and successfully arrested him on September 1 through a stakeout.

Judicial cooperation between the two countries also shone during the repatriation process. Due to Philippine entry restrictions related to COVID-19, it was difficult to dispatch a police escort from the National Police Agency locally, but through cooperation among the National Police Agency, the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, and Philippine judicial authorities, the Korean Desk was exceptionally able to directly repatriate Mr. A to South Korea. A National Police Agency official described this as "a model case of actively arresting and repatriating the ringleader of an organization that habitually committed fraud against many victims despite difficult circumstances."

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