Police Launch Special Crackdown on Fake Listings Used as Bait for Houses and Used Cars

Measures Following Presidential Directive
Collaboration with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Local Governments

The National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters announced on the 1st that it will conduct a special crackdown for three months starting from the 2nd on acts of posting false housing and used car listings online. This measure follows President Yoon Seok-yeol's order during a meeting on measures against jeonse fraud on the 16th of last month, demanding strict enforcement against bait fake listings for housing and used cars.

View of downtown apartment complexes from Namsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The police plan to carry out this crackdown in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments. They have formed a "Special Task Force for Crackdown on Bait Fake Listings of Housing and Used Cars," led by the head of the National Investigation Headquarters' Investigation Bureau, and will simultaneously collect intelligence on related livelihood crimes. During the investigation, they will also examine real estate and used car trading sites for involvement or complicity in the crimes.

The police intend to notify relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport about any violations of laws confirmed during the investigation so that administrative measures can be taken concurrently. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to organize joint crackdown teams with local governments to analyze false listings and secure evidence to enable criminal punishment upon detection of illegal activities, then request investigations by the police.

According to the police, fraud damages caused by false advertisements for housing and used cars have been continuously occurring. Recently, the police explained that cases of damage based on online platforms have been increasing. Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated, "False listings have long been a chronic problem in the platform market," adding, "We will correct the long-standing false advertisements and various illegal acts to create a social community where the public can feel safe."