Gyeonggi-do Reviews Criminal Charges Against 10 Suspected Used Car Fraud Websites

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province inspected 303 online used car sales sites and identified 10 sites suspected of posting false listings, planning to pursue criminal charges.

From May to December last year, Gyeonggi Province shortlisted 27 sites that posted 2,760 listings priced at 75% or less of the market value from 167 online used car trading sites, 121 blogs and cafes, and 15 others (such as YouTube channels). On the 24th, they announced that 10 sites were identified after excluding 17 sites that were closed during the investigation process.

The province confirmed the false listing sites through a procedure that included big data comparison, collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to cross-check automobile electronic data, and mystery shopping by posing as customers to verify whether the advertisement content and information matched the related listings.

In a major case, Site A advertised a mid-to-large sedan worth approximately 34.9 million KRW (based on a major used car trading platform) for only 4.6 million KRW, which is just 13% of the normal price (a 2020 model with about 4,500 km driven). However, upon verifying the actual vehicle information, it was revealed that the vehicle was a 2019 model with over 40,000 km driven, showing discrepancies not only in the sale price but also in the vehicle details.

Site B introduced a 2021 SUV for sale at 4 million KRW, but records showed that the same vehicle was listed on a major used car trading platform seven months earlier for 41.5 million KRW. Checking the registration information with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revealed that the vehicle had already been deregistered and exported overseas, making purchase impossible.

The province is currently reviewing legal grounds to pursue criminal charges against sales agents and others involved in the 10 false listing websites.

A provincial official stated, "With the recent delays in new car deliveries leading to an increase in used car transactions, we have prepared a guide to identify false listings to prevent damage to residents." He added, "From March to December this year, we will continue regular inspections of false used car listings to foster a healthy used car market environment and do our best to prevent consumer harm."

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