After 10 Years of Investigation... Prosecution Arrests and Indicts Voice Phishing Scam Group Members with 475 Victims

Revealing Mr. A's Charges Through Prosecutor's Supplementary Investigation in 2012
Mr. A Flees to the Philippines
Captured on the 14th After 10 Years of Pursuit

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The prosecution has tracked down and indicted a voice phishing (telephone financial fraud) gang member who fled overseas after 10 years.

The Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jang Soyoung) secured the custody of A (33), who is accused of fraud, in the Philippines on the 14th and arrested and indicted him on the 21st.

A is accused of working as a counselor at voice phishing offices located in China and the Philippines from November 2011 to August 2012, during which he received approximately 330 million KRW into a mule account under the pretext of stamp duty and other incidental expenses, claiming to provide loans to 475 victims.

A's crime was revealed through supplementary investigation by the prosecution in September 2012. In August of the same year, the Seodaemun Police Station referred two voice phishing gang members to the prosecution on fraud charges. Through supplementary investigations such as mule account analysis and related party inquiries, the prosecution confirmed that the gang defrauded 433 victims of about 260 million KRW in China and the Philippines.

During this process, the prosecution additionally identified the crimes of 11 people, including 3 ringleaders, 2 managers, 1 recruiter, and 5 counselors including A. Among them, 6 were indicted, but 5, including A, fled overseas and were subject to suspension of prosecution with arrest warrants issued.

The prosecution tracked A and others for 10 years, requested international cooperation from Interpol on the 6th, secured custody of A who fled to the Philippines, and arrested him on the 14th. Subsequently, through video-recorded interrogation, evidence was secured that A met with the ringleader after leaving the country for the purpose of overseas escape. Additionally, about 70 million KRW of additional fraud involving 42 victims was uncovered.

A prosecution official stated, “We will continue to take strict measures against voice phishing crimes in the future.”

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