"Let's Get Married" Without Ever Meeting... Man in His 40s Sentenced to Prison for Extorting Tens of Millions of Won

"My father is critically ill" and "He has passed away" — a web of lies
Met online and extorted 48 million won over 67 transactions
Court: "Victim also responsible for giving money to a stranger with marriage in mind"

A man in his 40s who approached a woman he met through a dating app and extorted tens of millions of won from her by falsely claiming he needed money for his father's cancer treatment and funeral expenses has been sentenced to prison.

On May 9, Judge Jang Wonjeong of the Seoul Northern District Court Criminal Division 9 announced that A (48), who was indicted on charges of fraud, forgery of private documents, and use of forged private documents, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

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In October 2024, A was brought to trial on charges of repeatedly obtaining money from the victim, B, whom he met through a dating app, by pretending to pursue a relationship with marriage in mind and asking for living expenses and car rental fees. He also forged a repayment pledge in another person's name to borrow additional money.

On October 25, 2024, A deceived the victim by claiming he needed to repay someone else and received 1.1 million won by bank transfer under the guise of a loan. Between then and January 22, 2025, he defrauded her of a total of 48.17 million won over 67 separate occasions. At the time, he told the victim, "I need money for my father's cancer treatment," and "If you lend me the treatment expenses, a friend will pay you back." Even after receiving the money, he continued to deceive her by saying, "My father has passed away, so I need money for funeral expenses," and "If you lend me the money, I will hire a judicial scrivener and transfer my father's assets to you in your name."

However, it was found that A actually had no stable income or assets. It was also revealed that he neither intended nor was able to repay the money, and that there was no friend who could repay the debt on his behalf.

Judge Jang stated, "The defendant has many prior convictions for similar offenses, including having served prison sentences." However, the judge added, "The victim contributed to the occurrence of the damage to some extent by continuously giving money to the defendant, whom she never met in person and only knew through the dating app, while believing she was in a relationship with marriage in mind. This was taken into consideration."

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