"Overseas Business Trip, Please Send Money"… Billion-Won Fraud Using Profiles Impersonating Professors and Public Officials

Obtained Alumni Association List... Members Impersonate President and Professors
International Students and Overseas Businesspeople Introduced, Asked for Proxy Remittance

A man in his 40s who impersonated former university presidents, professors, and public officials to approach members of faculty associations, alumni associations, and economic organizations, then tricked them into introducing local international students or businesspeople and asked for proxy remittances, embezzling billions of won, was arrested by the police. This man, who was hiding in Thailand, was apprehended through Interpol international cooperation and extradited to South Korea.

On the 30th, the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they had arrested Mr. A, in his 40s, on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Telecommunications Secrets and fraud.

Suspect A's impersonation KakaoTalk profile picture [Image source: Provided by Busan Police Agency, Yonhap News]

Mr. A is suspected of impersonating prominent social figures from June 2020 to last June and embezzling 170 million won from 12 people, including domestic and overseas international students and local overseas businesspeople.

Mr. A obtained membership lists of various faculty associations, economic organizations, and alumni associations, then posed as former university presidents, professors, public officials, and outside directors who were higher up in the organizational hierarchy to approach many members. He committed the crimes targeting frontline staff who did not frequently communicate with high-ranking figures such as former presidents. Mr. A showed meticulousness by changing his KakaoTalk profile pictures to make himself appear as the real person.

Mr. A approached these members by saying, "I urgently need to send money to places like Vietnam, but I am on a business trip to the United States, so it is difficult," then asked for introductions to local businesspeople or international students and requested proxy overseas remittances. International students and local businesspeople who were contacted by professors or businesspeople with whom they had a close relationship sent remittances ranging from several million to over 10 million won without suspicion, following Mr. A’s instructions.

Mr. A showed them photos of bank transfer confirmation slips, claiming he would send them the equivalent amount in dollars, but these were forged. After receiving the money into a currency exchange account in Thailand, he reportedly squandered the funds on living expenses and entertainment. Police investigations revealed that Mr. A had been illegally residing in Thailand since 2009 for 14 years while conducting these fraudulent activities. He used four burner phones to create 30 impersonation accounts and embezzled money from 12 people.

The police, who started the investigation in March, identified Mr. A’s identity and hiding place in Thailand, then cooperated with Interpol, the Thai police, and the Korean police attach? to arrest Mr. A locally in June and extradited him to South Korea last month, four months later.

Lee Jae-hong, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit at the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, urged, "Since KakaoTalk profiles can be manipulated, if an acquaintance asks for money, you must verify directly with the person to prevent damage."

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