'Save Me 700 Won' Online Begging for 4 Years... "If Worked During That Time, Would Have Earned 7 Million Won"

Author Pleading Financial Hardship Has Been Begging Since 4 Years Ago
Online Beggar Deceiving Netizens Faces Flood of Criticism

For the fourth consecutive year, an individual known as an "online beggar" who posts begging messages using the same bank account number on online communities has been caught, drawing criticism from netizens. On the 21st, a post titled "Is there anyone who can spare 700 won because I'm really desperateㅠㅠ" was uploaded on the online community 'BobaeDream.' It is known that the post was re-uploaded by another community user who captured the original post after it was deleted by the initial author.

The original author of the post appealed, saying, "I have been starving on the street for more than two days," and "If I had just 700 won, I could enter a convenience store. I'm grasping at straws." He claimed, "I am homeless due to unpaid rent from financial hardship while living in a goshiwon," and "I went to a labor office in the morning but came back empty-handed, and I am tired and cold from enduring on the street."

An individual known as an "online beggar," who has been posting on online communities using the same bank account number for four years, has been spotted, drawing criticism from netizens.
[Photo by Online Community 'BobaeDream']

Additionally, he lamented his difficult situation by stating, "My entire fortune is 662 won." He then naturally left his bank account number, asking netizens for help. He added, "If you help me enough to cover a jjimjilbang or one meal, I will never forget your kindness for life," and "If I get out of this crisis, I will try to help those in need. Please save me just this once," leaving his account number once again. For some reason, the author suddenly deleted the post. Later, a community user named A restored his post.

User A said that after reading the post, he searched the bank account number out of curiosity. As a result, begging posts with the same account number had been posted on various online communities for the past four years. The content was not much different, including phrases like "I have been starving for two days," "I want to eat cup noodles," and "Please save me just once." User A criticized, saying, "Is this a 'catch only one' scheme?" and "It's amazing." Netizens who saw the post poured out criticism such as "Change the content a bit," "Let's register him as a scammer," "Someone sends money to that account, so such posts keep appearing," and "Some people proudly talk about receiving money like that on other communities." There was also criticism that if he had worked during the time he spent posting about 700 won for four years, he would have easily earned 7 million won.

Dozens of begging posts appear daily on certain communities

Some posts on online communities include requests such as "Even a small amount is fine, please help me get back on my feet" or "I have nowhere to stay, please transfer just 20,000 won for jjimjilbang fees," with the author's bank account number clearly stated.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

On popular online communities frequently used by netizens, dozens of posts pleading their bleak situations are posted daily. Most of these posts share personal unfortunate stories such as stock failures or business difficulties, seeking sympathy from other members.

Among these, some posts specify the author's bank account number, asking for help to "stand up again even with a small amount" or "please deposit just 20,000 won for jjimjilbang fees as I have nowhere to stay." In response, some netizens deposit amounts ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 won and leave encouraging comments like "Cheer up" to comfort the authors.

However, it is known that many cases involve borrowing or receiving money through such methods and then disappearing by withdrawing from the site or changing contact information. In particular, these acts mainly occur on automobile and stock-related sites where members can empathize with each other and many have financial means.

A police official stated, "Begging online and then disappearing is a clear act of fraud," and urged, "Even if the story is heartbreaking, do not lend money recklessly to strangers, and if you believe you have been scammed, please report it to the police."