Chinese National Prosecuted for Embezzling 60 Million Won by Selling Fake Masks on Secondhand Trading Site

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A Chinese national who deceived people by claiming to sell masks on a secondhand trading site and swindled about 60 million won has been brought to trial.

The Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 7th that it had arrested and indicted a 33-year-old Chinese national, A, on charges of fraud. A is accused of deceiving a total of 98 people into buying KF94 masks on an online secondhand trading site from February 1 to 4, swindling 60.97 million won.

The police identified the suspect by comparing CCTV footage from an automated teller machine (ATM) and foreign biometric information. After fleeing to China following the crime, A was caught by the police on the 10th of last month while entering through Incheon International Airport.

Investigations revealed that A was the withdrawal agent for a fraud organization based overseas.

A representative from the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office said, "Among the members of the fraud organization, A is the only person whose identity has been confirmed so far," adding, "Since this crime exploited people's anxiety amid difficulties in purchasing masks, we will make every effort to maintain the prosecution."