30s Arrested for Scamming Tens of Millions in Used Computer Sales Under the Pretense of 'Rental Computers'

Posting Used Goods for Sale with Items Rented from Rental Companies
Taking Money and Disappearing... Evading by Changing Phone Numbers

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A man in his 30s was arrested for renting computer cases and components from a rental company, posting them on secondhand trading sites as if selling them, and then extorting tens of millions of won from prospective buyers.

The Dongjak Police Station in Seoul announced on the 5th that they had arrested a man in his mid-30s, identified as Mr. A, on charges including fraud.

Mr. A is accused of posting ads to sell computer cases and components on secondhand trading sites from June last year to August this year, receiving money from victims but not delivering the goods.

In particular, Mr. A is also charged with borrowing high-priced computer cases and components (worth about 35 million won) from electronics rental companies and failing to return them even after the rental period ended.

It was investigated that Mr. A embezzled about 45 million won from 32 victims using this method.

When the police investigation began, Mr. A changed his mobile phone number repeatedly and fled around Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

The police received a damage report in December last year and succeeded in arresting Mr. A after about eight months of investigation.

A police official said, "We plan to continue strict crackdowns on the seven major malicious fraudsters, including cyber fraud that harms the livelihood economy."

Meanwhile, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the police urged special caution against fraud crimes exploiting the normalized and popularized secondhand trading platforms.

The police explained that in 'internet secondhand trading fraud cases,' the common methods include ▲posting attractive items at prices lower than the market value ▲inducing quick payment by saying 'because it is a popular product, payment must be made quickly' ▲receiving payment via bank accounts, electronic payment services, or virtual accounts ▲and then cutting off contact without sending the goods.

The police added that users should be more cautious when trading items on secondhand trading sites and that using secure payment systems can help prevent damage.

Additionally, checking in advance whether the seller’s phone number or account number has been used in fraud crimes through the 'Cyber Fraud Damage Report Inquiry System' operated by the National Police Agency before making a payment can also help prevent damage.