25 Members of Voice Phishing Organization Using '070→010' Caller ID Spoofing Indicted

A group involved in crimes by changing the caller ID of internet phone numbers starting with '070' to '010', the same as regular mobile phones, to aid Chinese voice phishing organizations has been brought to trial.

Relay devices, burner SIM cards, computers, mobile phones, and wireless routers seized by the Joint Government Investigation Team on Voice Phishing Crimes. [Image source=Joint Government Investigation Team on Voice Phishing Crimes]

The Voice Phishing Crime Government Joint Investigation Team (Chief Kim Ho-sam, Deputy Chief Prosecutor) announced on the 25th that they have indicted 25 members of a caller ID spoofing organization on charges including participation in a criminal organization, fraud, and violation of the Telecommunications Business Act. Among them, 20 were sent to trial in custody. The joint investigation team also seized 621 relay devices, 2,832 burner SIM cards, 31 computers, 100 mobile phones, and 682 wireless routers. During this process, it was confirmed that the voice phishing organization developed and tested new relay devices that could evade law enforcement crackdowns.

According to the joint investigation team, the suspects thoroughly divided roles among the relay device office management organization, burner SIM card distribution organization, and mobile carrier agency owners who opened and supplied burner SIM cards to commit the crimes. The office management leader, a 31-year-old Thai national identified as A, is accused of managing 26 relay device offices from September last year until recently, distributing relay devices, mobile phones, and USB hubs obtained from the Chinese voice phishing mastermind to each office, thereby defrauding approximately 355.81 million KRW from 21 victims.

Also, B, the 27-year-old leader of the burner SIM card distribution organization, is accused of supplying burner SIM cards to A from February to June this year and enabling the Chinese voice phishing organization to defraud about 514.9 million KRW from 9 victims through caller ID spoofing. C, a 38-year-old mobile carrier agency owner, was indicted for forging subscription applications under foreign names to open about 390 burner SIM cards and supplying 124 of them to the voice phishing organization.

The joint investigation team also confirmed that the voice phishing organization was involved in other crimes such as drug trafficking and illegal gambling. One relay device courier was investigated for purchasing approximately 4.8 grams of methamphetamine under the direction of the Chinese voice phishing mastermind and selling it seven times using the so-called 'throwing' method. The leader of the distribution organization and its members were additionally indicted for operating an illegal sports Toto site promotion telemarketing team for one year.

The joint investigation team stated, "We plan to identify the personal information of the Chinese voice phishing mastermind through international cooperation and track foreign recruiters who recruited illegal Thai residents involved in the crimes through Interpol red notices. We will continue to uncover related crimes such as the distribution of burner SIM cards, relay devices, and wireless routers that facilitate voice phishing crimes, and we will thoroughly pursue and strictly punish voice phishing organizations and their affiliated groups to protect the public from voice phishing crimes."

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