Passed out after drinking fake liquor at a nightlife venue... Woke up to find 200 million won stolen

Cash Withdrawal After Causing Unconsciousness
Also Inflating Alcohol Prices by Exchanging Empty Bottles

A group that lured intoxicated individuals, made them lose consciousness by giving them fake whiskey, and then extorted about 200 million won in cash has been handed over to the prosecution.

The Gwanak Police Station in Seoul announced on the 5th that they have sent 17 people, including entertainment bar owners and waiters, to the prosecution on charges of special robbery and fraud for giving fake whiskey to heavily intoxicated customers to make them lose consciousness and then extorting cash. Among them, two entertainment business owners were detained, while the remaining 15 were sent without detention.

They are accused of giving fake whiskey to intoxicated customers from September 2022 to February this year, causing them to lose consciousness, obtaining their phone banking passwords, and extorting about 200 million won from 43 victims. They are also accused of providing fake whiskey made by mixing cheap whiskey at a certain ratio, using waiters and female hostesses to make victims drink it quickly to lose consciousness, and then inflating the alcohol bill by placing expensive empty whiskey bottles on the table.

Seoul Gwanak Police Station requesting the National Forensic Service to analyze counterfeit whiskey
[Photo by Gwanak Police Station]

The group was confirmed to have operated in an organized manner by dividing roles such as touts who lured victims, hostesses who encouraged victims to drink quickly to get intoxicated, and withdrawal agents who obtained credit card or phone banking passwords while the victims were unconscious to make transfers or payments. To prevent victims from protesting, they filmed scenes of heavily intoxicated victims handing over credit cards and used methods such as taking victims to nearby motels to prevent them from reporting the crime.

The police confirmed that two damage reports were received on the same day in December last year and launched an investigation into two entertainment establishments in the area. After examinations by the National Forensic Service and others, it was confirmed that the whiskey provided to the victims was fake, and through analysis of seized items, the suspects' charges were concretely proven.

The police stated, "Recently, similar damage reports have been repeatedly received from entertainment establishments around Sillim Station. We will strictly investigate illegal operations of entertainment bars and ensure they are punished." They also urged, "Especially for individuals drinking alone, there is a possibility of becoming crime victims, so extra caution is required."