'Reporter Shakes Off Microphone'... 14 Billion Fraud 'Mamkaep' Operator Heads to Court

Hundreds of Billions in Gift Card Scams on Internet Mom Cafes
Most Victims Are Housewives

A woman in her 50s who deceived members of a mom cafe by promising high returns on investments in department store gift certificates and embezzled 14 billion won has appeared in the media for the first time.

On the afternoon of the 30th, Ms. A, a woman in her 50s accused of fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and violation of the Act on the Regulation of Similar Receipt of Funds, entered the Incheon District Court where the pretrial detention hearing was held.

An internet cafe operator accused of deceiving members by promising high returns on investments in department store gift certificates and embezzling 14 billion won is seen pushing away reporters' hands on the afternoon of the 30th in front of the Incheon District Court while attending the pretrial detention hearing (warrant review).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Arriving at the court with her lawyer, Ms. A brushed away the microphone with her hand when reporters asked before the hearing, "Do you admit to the fraud charges? Aren't you sorry to the victims?" She gave no response and entered the courtroom.

Ms. A is suspected of operating an internet cafe from January 2020 to September last year, embezzling 14.2 billion won from 61 members.

It is understood that Ms. A proposed so-called 'Sangtech (gift certificate + asset management)' to members, promising to return the principal with a 30% profit if they invested in department store gift certificates. Initially, she built trust by actually sharing profits with victims and then continuously induced reinvestment. Most of the victims are reported to be housewives.

An internet cafe operator accused of deceiving members by promising high returns on investments in department store gift certificates and embezzling 14 billion won is entering the Incheon District Court on the afternoon of the 30th to undergo a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The police believe Ms. A embezzled a total of 46 billion won from 282 cafe members. However, except for the 61 fraud victims, the others were reluctant to testify, so only 14.2 billion won was included as the amount in the arrest warrant for fraud charges.

However, the police regard Ms. A’s act of illegally collecting funds using gift certificates as bait as a violation of the Act on the Regulation of Similar Receipt of Funds, and consider the entire 46 billion won as the amount for this charge.

Meanwhile, the police have also booked two business partners of Ms. A without detention and are investigating the detailed circumstances of the case.