Gangwon Police Agency Arrests 11, Detains 2 Key Figures
A large-scale fraud syndicate based overseas was caught by the authorities after creating a website that promoted meetings with women using explicit photos and promising arranged meetings, masking it as fraudulent activity. The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Gangwon Police Agency announced on the 2nd that they had apprehended 11 individuals, including a leader, identified as A (42), and another individual, B (26, female), who are now detained.
According to the police, this group, operating out of their base in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, posted fake advertisements on social media networks (SNS) from May for about six months, swindling 1.45 billion KRW from 35 victims under the pretense of subscription fees and “security review fees.” The authorities estimate the total damage could reach 9.3 billion KRW, considering the group’s scale and methods.
The syndicate created a fake website featuring explicit photos and offered to arrange meetings, then posted random advertisements on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. When male victims accessed the site and requested the services of sex workers after signing up, the group exploited them by demanding payment in stages.
The police launched an investigation after receiving tips that young people, who had previously worked abroad, were involved in the criminal activities. They tracked the funds and methods used by the organization, leading to successful arrests.
Despite victims suffering losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of KRW, they were reluctant to report the crime due to its nature, presenting a challenge for the police in identifying additional victims.
The Criminal Investigation Unit plans to continuously pursue and detain the remaining members of the organization residing in Cambodia through international cooperation and will work to identify more victims.
A police spokesperson stated, “We plan to focus our investigative efforts continuously to crack down on evolving and malicious fraud crimes in various forms.”