'070→010' Caller ID Spoofing Phishing Gang Indicted... First Detection of 'New Type Relay Device' (Summary)

Internet phone caller IDs starting with '070' were changed to '010', the same as regular mobile phones, and a group involved in crimes with a Chinese voice phishing organization was brought to trial. It is known that they used new types of relay devices that are difficult to crack down on in their crimes. This is the first time that such new relay devices have been found in Korea.

New type of relay device difficult to crack down on, seized by the government joint investigation team on voice phishing crimes. This is the first time the new relay device has been found in Korea.
[Photo by Taewon Choi]

The Voice Phishing Crime Government Joint Investigation Team (Head Kim Ho-sam, Deputy Chief Prosecutor) announced on the 25th that it 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.

According to the joint investigation team, the suspects thoroughly divided roles among a relay device office management organization, a 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 suspected of managing 26 relay device offices from September last year to recently, distributing relay devices, mobile phones, and USB hubs obtained from the Chinese voice phishing mastermind to each office, thereby defrauding about 355.81 million KRW from 21 victims.

Additionally, B, a 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 approximately 390 burner SIM cards and supplying 124 burner SIM cards to the voice phishing organization.

In particular, during the investigation, the joint team confirmed that the voice phishing organization developed new relay devices that could evade law enforcement crackdowns. The newly discovered relay devices, found for the first time in Korea, were smuggled through Incheon and Busan, tested in Daejeon, and then spread nationwide. The newly found relay devices are about one-quarter the size of existing relay devices, similar in size to a videotape. They can be concealed in distribution boards and are known not to be detected by 3G radio wave detection. They can be remotely powered on and off, requiring no separate administrator. The joint investigation team seized a total of 24 new relay devices. Regarding future countermeasures, a joint team official said, "It was previously believed that crackdowns were completely impossible, but we received a response that, although difficult, confirmation is possible. We are continuously seeking methods."

Furthermore, the joint team confirmed that the voice phishing organization was also involved in other crimes such as drug trafficking and illegal gambling. One relay device courier was investigated for purchasing about 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 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 punish voice phishing organizations and affiliated groups to protect the public from voice phishing crimes."

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