Warning About 'Motel Scammer' Cheating 1.65 Million Won on Accommodation and Meals...

Working with a public institution, "Employee will come tomorrow to approve payment"
Borrowed money and disappeared using the same method 3 years ago
Tall, large-built, loud-voiced man in his 70s

A post warning about a man impersonating government and public institution employees to commit fraud at lodging establishments has sparked controversy.

On the 10th, a post titled "He seems to be a nationwide scammer. Motel owners, please be careful" was uploaded to the self-employed community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' (Because It Hurts, I'm a Boss).

The author, who said that Lee, who runs a motel in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, was a victim, shared CCTV footage showing a man named Mr. B who visited the motel around 2 p.m. on the 2nd.

CCTV footage revealing the fraudulent activities of a man in his 70s impersonating government and public institution employees has been released. It is reported that the man committed similar fraud three years ago as well.
[Photo source: Screenshot from the self-employed community 'Apeunikka Sajangida']

The author explained, "An elderly man came to the counter and said, 'I will stay for about two weeks, and two employees will come down from Seoul tomorrow. It's hard to find a room in Tongyeong, so I came down first.'

He continued, "Mr. B introduced himself, saying, 'I came to shoot the scenic coastal road of Tongyeong sponsored by the Tourism Development Corporation and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. I operate a drone, and I have been doing this for a long time, so I travel not only here but also to places like Gangwon-do for tourism corporation work.'

The owner, Lee, agreed to provide three rooms at a discounted total price of 1.45 million KRW for Mr. B, who said he would stay for five days. Then Mr. B won the owner's favor by saying, 'My employees will come tomorrow to pay. Since you are working hard alone, I will give you 1.5 million KRW (adding 50,000 KRW).'

After checking in, Mr. B called the owner and pretended to be a long-term guest by spreading out clothes and various items, and acted like someone who would stay long by stocking the refrigerator with drinks and buying ramen.

The next morning, after going out and returning, Mr. B asked the owner to "lend me money," saying, "I just had a brief meeting with city hall employees. But they want me to buy lunch. Our employees won't arrive until around 2 p.m."

Mr. B continued, "Please lend me 150,000 KRW. Since I'm the old man, I should pay when eating with city hall employees. When my employees arrive later, collect 1.65 million KRW, which is the lodging fee of 1.5 million plus 150,000 KRW." The owner willingly lent him 150,000 KRW in cash.

As the owner was going upstairs to clean the room, Mr. B’s laughter echoed as he was leaving.

When the owner checked Mr. B’s room, it was completely empty. The owner realized that he had been scammed.

Upon inquiry, it was found that Mr. B’s fraudulent acts were not the first. Another owner running a lodging business nearby also checked CCTV and shared the damage, saying, "That guy from three years ago."

The author said, "It’s a small town, and many lodging workers are elderly, so they seem to be deceived because an older man approaches them claiming to be from public institutions." He added, "Although he is a scammer, he says he travels nationwide himself, and seeing him come back after three years, it seems he is not only committing these acts in Tongyeong."

He also urged, "Although the police were notified, it is not easy to catch him, so owners should be careful." He added that Mr. B is a man in his late 70s, over 180 cm tall, large build, with a loud voice, and has a distinctive slight limp.