Loan even with card issued under friend's name... Billion-won fraud scheme involving 25-year friendship

Suwon District Court Sentences to 2 Years and 6 Months Imprisonment
Court: "First Offender but Damage Is Significant"

A woman in her 40s was sentenced to prison for opening a mobile phone under the name of a friend she had known for 25 years, repeatedly receiving cash advances, and making credit card payments worth tens of millions of won.

According to Yonhap News on the 7th, Han Sohee, a judge of the Criminal Division 10 at Suwon District Court, recently sentenced A (43) to 2 years and 6 months in prison on charges of fraud and forgery of private documents.

From 2016 to 2019, A used a mobile phone registered under the name of B, a friend she had known for 25 years, to receive cash advances from credit card companies 74 times, collecting about 98 million won. She is also charged with issuing a credit card under B's name and using it to make payments worth approximately 55.9 million won over 253 transactions.

Suwon District Court exterior view [Image source=Yonhap News]

A also applied for online loans from commercial banks by inputting personal information such as B's mobile phone number, workplace name, and annual income, receiving about 28.3 million won in four installments.

Investigations revealed that A asked B, saying, "I need an account for business use, but as a housewife, it is difficult to open an account," and received a check card linked to a bank account from B, through which she obtained the account password, internet banking ID, and password. She also obtained B's digital certificate and password by saying, "I will help with year-end tax settlement," and continued her fraudulent activities.

The judge pointed out, "Although the defendant is a first-time offender, the actual damage claimed by the victim exceeds 100 million won, and the damage is very severe." Regarding the sentencing, the judge explained, "Considering various sentencing factors, including the defendant's repeated absences from trial dates after requesting to reschedule the trial to reach a settlement with the victim."

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