A crime ring based overseas was caught running scams by using a domestic used-goods transaction platform. Police launched a special crackdown on cyber fraud.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on the 22nd, a crime ring based in Cambodia was recently caught running scams on Joonggonara, swindling about 1,400 people out of 6.7 billion won.
A Cambodian crime ring that mainly carried out voice phishing and romance scams infiltrated even used-goods transactions, which center on small-amount transactions.
The Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI) will conduct an intensive crackdown on livelihood-infringing financial crimes and cyber fraud from Mar. 23 to Oct. 31. ▲ In-person transaction scams ▲ shopping mall scams ▲ game scams ▲ operating illegal investment firms ▲ unfair transaction practices ▲ illegal private financing ▲ unauthorized deposit-taking and pyramid schemes are the main targets.
The Korean National Police Agency said, "Cyber fraud rings are showing a trend of becoming more organized and sophisticated, such as directing crimes from overseas bases or fleeing abroad after committing crimes domestically."
The Korean National Police Agency plans to deploy specialized investigative personnel, including anti-corruption and economic crime investigation units and cyber investigation units at city and provincial police agencies, to conduct a tough investigation.
They will also strictly crack down on distribution activities involving burner phones and bank accounts used for crimes.
National Office of Investigation (NOI) Commissioner Park Sung-ju said, "Recently, criminals are exploiting the economic situation to devise increasingly elaborate scenarios," and added, "We will thoroughly recover criminal proceeds as well."