"Let's Live Together if You Come to Korea"… Foreigners Posing as Lovers Arrested for Fraud Ring

Fraud of 150 Million Won Against 5 Victims

The scene during the arrest and residential search [Provided by Paju Police Station]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] A foreign gang impersonating overseas deployed soldiers or professionals living abroad approached victims and extorted large sums of money, and has been arrested by the police.

The Paju Police Station in Gyeonggi announced on the 11th that "the mastermind of the 'romance scam' fraud organization, A (26, Nigeria), and the accomplice B (33, Cameroon), who withdrew money, were arrested on charges of fraud, violation of the Act on the Regulation of Conducting Fund-Raising Business via Telecommunications, and the Act on the Prevention of Damage, and all were detained."

The term 'romance scam' is a new type of fraud combining 'romance' and 'scam,' meaning credit fraud.

A and his gang are suspected of living in Pyeongtaek between June and July and embezzling 150 million won from five victims, including victim C, under the pretexts of airfare, vacation application fees, and international courier receipt fees. A also faces charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act after testing positive for marijuana.

Police investigations revealed that they gained victims' favor through SNS accounts using Korean translated by online translators, then pretended to be lovers and extorted money.

Messages through which the suspects approached the victims [Provided by Paju Police Station]

All victims are Korean, including four women and one man. Notably, victim C in their 40s, who had already been scammed by a 'romance scam,' was deceived again by the suspects who said, "As an apology, we will send the compensation amount in cash via a courier box, so please pay the courier fee," and sent 12 million won.

The methods used by A and his gang included impersonating ▲ U.S. soldiers deployed overseas ▲ U.N. doctors deployed in Ukraine ▲ Americans born in Korea ▲ military doctors adopted to the U.S. and deployed in Iran ▲ Koreans residing in Germany, and they received money through bank accounts.

It was investigated that they sent the illicitly obtained money to Africa via international courier or sold used mobile phones purchased domestically to the African region.

A denied the crimes during police investigation, while B confessed to all charges.

The police seized burner phones, laptops used in the crimes, cash, and U.S. dollars at the arrest scene and are investigating additional offenses.