Gyeongnam Police Agency Arrests 953 Malicious Fraudsters and Detains 49

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency detected 3,420 cases of malicious cyber fraud, arrested 953 people, and detained 49 from August 16 to December 31, 2022, through a comprehensive plan to eradicate malicious cyber fraud.

On the 16th, the provincial police agency announced that they apprehended individuals who committed internet goods fraud, cyber investment fraud, and telecommunication financial fraud such as messenger phishing, smishing, pharming, and molka cam phishing.

Statistics Table of Cyber Fraud and Financial Crimes in Gyeongnam. [Image provided by Gyeongnam Police Agency]

According to the provincial police agency, compared to last year, malicious cyber fraud cases increased by 407, arrests increased by 940, and the arrest rate rose by 15 percentage points.

The number of detainees increased by 157.9%, from 19 to 49, compared to the same period last year.

During the comprehensive plan period, the provincial police cybercrime investigation team arrested 19 people who swindled 2.9 billion KRW from 148 people recruited under the pretext of stock leading investment, detaining 6 of them.

They are suspected of deceiving victims by guaranteeing high returns using stock leading through text messages and SNS advertisements from around August to October 2021, then inducing them to fake investment sites to commit fraud.

The Yangsan Police Station Cyber Investigation Team arrested 12 people from February to the end of March 2022 who created fake investment sites such as futures options and swindled about 1.5 billion KRW from 27 unspecified individuals under the pretense of generating profits, handing over 7 of them to the prosecution.

From August to mid-September of the same year, six goods fraud offenders exploited the fact that 'non-face-to-face savings accounts' could be opened without restrictions, swindling about 91 million KRW from 214 people using over 80 non-face-to-face accounts; three of them were detained and sent to prosecution.

From September to October, after identifying that three previously arrested suspects were involved in similar crimes affecting 100 victims and 58 million KRW, all seven members of the group were apprehended through follow-up investigations, with four detained.

The Masan Dongbu Police Station Cyber Investigation Team arrested five members of an investment fraud group from January to February 2022 who pretended to be stock and futures investment experts on the internet and YouTube, inducing access to fake sites and swindling 560 million KRW from seven people; two were sent to prosecution under detention.

Prevention Methods for Different Types of Malicious Cyber Crimes.
[Image provided by Gyeongnam Police Agency]

A provincial police agency official stated, “Due to economic recession and the intensification of non-face-to-face trends, cybercrime occurrences are gradually increasing,” emphasizing, “It is crucial to familiarize oneself with preventive measures for each type of crime to prevent related damages.”

He added, “In the new year, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency’s Cyber Investigation Division, along with cyber investigation functions of all police stations, will unite to respond to various cybercrimes threatening the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.”

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