Pretending to Be Terminally Ill... Borrowed a Card Requesting Hospital Bills
"Considering Legal Action by Gathering Fraud Victims"
Jeon Cheong-jo (27) deceived others by claiming to be a terminally ill patient and borrowed someone else's credit card to pay hospital bills, purchasing luxury goods worth millions of won at a department store. The department store points were accumulated under the name of Jeon's ex-lover, Nam Hyun-hee (42).
According to the Kukmin Ilbo on the 12th, victim A, who revealed that they were defrauded by Jeon, lent the card on February 23 this year at Jeon's request to pay hospital bills. Jeon used that card to buy luxury goods worth millions of won.
Jeon Cheong-jo (right), who was arrested on fraud charges, and Nam Hyun-hee, former women's national fencing team member, who is suspected of being an accomplice. [Photo by Yeonye Duitoongryeong Lee Jin-ho YouTube]
According to the receipt A requested from the credit card company, Jeon purchased four dresses for 5,120,500 won at the famous B Department Store C branch around 8:30 p.m. on February 24. Around the same time, a 2,390,000 won suitcase was purchased at the D branch.
At the bottom of the receipt, the department store points were recorded under the name 'Nam*hee.' At the C branch, 5,120 points, and at the D branch, 2,390 points were accumulated under 'Nam*hee.' A acknowledged that the person shopping with Jeon was Nam and claimed that Nam Hyun-hee accumulated the department store points.
In a written interview with Kukmin Ilbo, A stated that they first met Jeon on March 29 last year. Jeon told A that they were in the terminal stage of cancer, evoking sympathy. Believing Jeon's claim of battling cancer, A grew close to Jeon and occasionally lent their card to pay hospital bills on Jeon's behalf.
A receipt photo reported by victim A, who claims to have been scammed by Jeon Cheong-jo (27). [Photo by Kim Min-seok, Office of Gangseo District Council Member]
However, A took back the card after discovering that Jeon used it for luxury shopping instead of hospital bills. At that time, Jeon promised to repay after returning from a trip to Spain with Nam but did not fully repay. A is currently paying the installment fees for the card charges Jeon incurred shopping.
A said they are considering gathering victims defrauded by Jeon to file a lawsuit against Jeon.
In the early stages of the fraud case, Jeon frequently called A, complaining about their difficulties. A said, "I had heard that Jeon showed violent tendencies or made extreme choices when anxious, so I was worried they might do something like that again. Out of fear, I decided to listen to them. Mostly, Jeon lamented their hardships."
Jeon and Nam are currently engaged in a verbal dispute over suspicions of being accomplices. Nam's legal representative issued a statement the day before, claiming that Jeon's gifts and financial support were part of a marriage fraud scheme intended to lure Nam with money and maintain a romantic relationship. They asserted that Nam was unaware of Jeon's investment fraud activities and that Jeon's gifts do not affect the establishment of accomplice liability.
On the other hand, Kim Min-seok, a member of the Gangseo District Council who first raised suspicions about Nam's complicity, stated, "Many informants currently say that Nam knew Jeon's true identity and accompanied them to solicit investments. These individuals find it difficult to confront the two personally and have come to the council office asking for help in filing complaints."
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