16 Members of Voice Phishing Organization Based in Qingdao, China Arrested... Damage Amount 2.7 Billion KRW

The police apprehended members of a voice phishing organization operating in China on the spot through international cooperation with Chinese public security authorities. It was confirmed that they impersonated prosecutors' investigators and prosecutors to embezzle 2.7 billion KRW.

On the 7th, the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they had arrested 16 members of a voice phishing organization, including Mr. A (38, male), a Chinese national, last month on charges of organizing a criminal group and fraud. The police apprehended the suspects at an on-site office in China through cooperation with the Chinese Public Security Bureau.
/Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Financial Crime Investigation Unit

On the 7th, the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they had arrested 16 voice phishing organization members, including a Chinese national A (38, male), on charges of organizing a criminal group and fraud. Among the members, 3 are Chinese and 13 are Korean.

They are suspected of continuing voice phishing crimes by impersonating prosecutors' investigators and prosecutors from January this year until last month, operating an office in Qingdao (靑島), China. During the investigation of voice phishing cases impersonating prosecutors, the police identified some suspects domestically and arrested three people in early last month. Two of them were detained.

Subsequently, the police provided information about the exact location of the voice phishing office in China and the members of the organization to the Chinese public security and requested international cooperation. On the 24th of last month, the Chinese public security raided the office located in Qingdao and arrested one Chinese leader and 12 members of the organization on the spot. A police official said, "Arrest warrants have been issued for 11 of the 13 people arrested in China, and warrants for the remaining two are planned to be requested." He added, "We plan to request their extradition from the Chinese public security soon."

Among the group, Kim (29, male), who was arrested first, returned to Korea voluntarily but was caught. Kim suffered a severe injury with a ruptured Achilles tendon after being beaten with a blunt weapon by A and other Chinese members for attempting to leave the criminal organization in China last June. While entering Korea to receive treatment for his injuries, he was caught at the airport by the police who had already placed him on the suspect list.

It was confirmed that there were 68 victims of their voice phishing, with total damages amounting to 2.7 billion KRW. A police official said, "It is significant that we identified the ongoing voice phishing organization and dismantled it through international cooperation," adding, "With investigative techniques that can identify the personal information of the criminals and a solid foundation for international cooperation, we will relentlessly pursue and arrest the members to eradicate phishing crimes."

Meanwhile, since last year, the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has cracked down on 11 overseas voice phishing call center organizations and arrested 42 members. Among them, 19 were detained.

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