Seventy-six people engaged in voice phishing schemes, based in China and the Philippines, who have swindled victims out of billions of South Korean won, have been handed over to prosecutors.
The Daejeon Jungbu Police Station reported on the 23rd that they have detained 76 individuals, including those working in call centers, for alleged violations of the Act on Enhanced Penalties for Specific Economic Crimes (fraud), encouraging cross-border transfers, and participating in or managing a criminal group. Of these, 11 were handed over to prosecutors with an arrest warrant, while the other 65 were released without being arrested.
The inquiry found that between February 2019 and June of the previous year, the group set up voice phishing call centers in Weihai, China, and Manila, Philippines. They posed as bank employees and tricked individuals by offering debt consolidation loans, carrying out phishing activities. They are charged with defrauding 62 victims out of 4.7 billion South Korean won.
The mastermind, A, in his 30s, who has been arrested, is accused of working with manager B, also in his 30s, a private loan provider, to entice debtors by promising job opportunities in China to settle their debts. Upon arrival, the victims had their passports taken away and were held against their will, forced to engage in criminal activities. The group offered a 7% commission for each crime but reclaimed the money as “interest,” taking advantage of them for a minimum of one year.
The police initiated an investigation following intelligence reports, and arrested 76 associates, submitting them for legal action. They also secured around 5.6 billion South Korean won in illicit funds for seizure.
A law enforcement representative said, “We think there could be more illegal funds than what has been confiscated,” and added, “We will continue to trace and retrieve these funds via additional inquiry.”
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