18 Local Senior-Junior Suspects, 174 Victims, Embezzlement of 1.8 Billion Won
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yong-woo] An investigation that began with the "human trafficking" on a secondhand trading site has led to the complete arrest of an internet fraud gang.
An internet fraud gang that deceived 174 people by falsely claiming to sell various secondhand items such as massage chairs and forklifts on an online secondhand trading site, embezzling approximately 1.783 billion KRW, has been arrested one after another.
Among the 18 fraud gang members connected as seniors and juniors in the region, 11 were detained, and 7 were sent to prosecution without detention.
This internet fraud crime was fully uncovered through persistent investigation into the "human trafficking" posts.
The Cyber Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency began an internal investigation in January after a post titled "Selling sons and daughters" appeared on an internet secondhand trading site, and by the end of March, six suspects were arrested on charges including fraud and intimidation.
Building on this investigation, they continued with digital forensics and other methods, leading to the arrest of a total of 18 people on charges including fraud up to recently.
The gang posted false advertisements on internet secondhand trading sites such as "○○nara," claiming to sell various items like forklifts and computers. When victims contacted them, they suggested using a safe payment method and sent fake safe payment emails to induce the victims to transfer money.
The fraud gang operated by sharing their criminal methods among seniors and juniors in the Tongyeong and Geoje areas of Gyeongnam Province.
Suspect A (male, in his 20s) and five others received a total of 472 million KRW from 77 victims between August 5, 2020, and February 8 of this year.
Suspect B (male, in his 20s) and one other received a total of 125 million KRW from 46 victims from December 29, 2020, to early April this year.
Suspect C (male, in his 20s) is accused of embezzling a total of 979 million KRW from two victims after learning the criminal methods from A, to whom he lent his bank account.
While committing these crimes, A, B, and four others are also accused of detaining victim D (female, teenager), a local junior who lent her account, for five days starting January 7 after she embezzled part of the money transferred from other victims.
A representative from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency said, "When trading secondhand goods, it is best to use direct transactions if possible. If direct transactions are difficult, it is advisable to use safe payment within the trading site, and be cautious of safe payment links sent by sellers for payment."
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