Over 40 Organized Crime Members Arrested for Voice Phishing Extending to China

Operated in China for 5 Years... Repatriation of One Unapprehended Mastermind Sought
All Domestic Members Mobilized to Lure to "Sports Toto Office"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A gang of organized criminals who operated voice phishing scams targeting Koreans for several years from China has been arrested by the police.

On the 29th, the Yangcheon Police Station in Seoul announced that they had apprehended 42 members of the organization, including the ringleader Mr. A (46) and his spouse, on charges of committing voice phishing crimes based in China (including charges of joining and participating in a criminal organization). Among the 42 suspects, 25 were detained, while 17 who had shorter involvement periods are under investigation without detention. Additionally, another ringleader Mr. C (46), who has not yet been caught, is subject to a red notice and international cooperation investigation for repatriation.

The gang is accused of operating the organization in China for five years from January 2015 to January 2020, using personal information of unspecified domestic victims to carry out voice phishing scams and extort money.

Mr. A, who was a member of a domestic organized crime group’s action squad, formed a voice phishing organization after moving to China in 2014 and recruited subordinates to act as call center counselors through organized crime members based in Iksan and Jeonju, Jeonbuk Province.

Following Mr. A’s orders, the members lured cardholders by phone, saying, "This is the Sports Toto office; if you provide an unused card, we will pay you 3 million won," and collected the cards via courier service to extort money, according to the investigation.

After obtaining related intelligence, the police confirmed through joint entry and exit records that many Koreans had traveled to and from China, leading to the arrest of the organization members.

The scale of the damage has not yet been specified, but most of the criminal proceeds were reportedly squandered on entertainment expenses, with some used for gambling funds.

A police official stated, "We have issued arrest warrants for the other uncaught ringleader and are pursuing repatriation through a red notice and international cooperation investigation. We will continue to investigate the remaining uncaught members of the organization."

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