Fraudster Man "Only Parcel Transactions Possible in Busan"
To Part-time Worker "Will Cancel Parcel"... Receives Goods
Uses Others' ID Cards and Photos Without Permission
A woman who tried to sell an expensive luxury watch secondhand was scammed.
JTBC's 'Case Manager' reported on the 10th the story of informant A, who fell victim to a new scam method while selling a luxury watch through a secondhand trading app. According to the report, A posted a luxury wristwatch priced at about 47 million won on a secondhand trading app to raise cash. Shortly after, a young man, B, contacted her expressing interest in buying the watch. He said, "I want to buy it as a gift for my wife's pregnancy," and added, "I am in Busan, so since my wife is in Seoul, the transaction can only be done via delivery."
A told 'Case Manager', "He kept insisting on a delivery transaction during the call, so I asked if it was voice phishing or a scam, and he said, 'If it were, I wouldn't have called you,'" adding, "Because the product was so expensive, he said he couldn't fully trust the seller, but if I sent the package and the receipt, he would transfer the money immediately." In fact, B sent a message saying, "You must send it cash on delivery at the convenience store. After you send the package, take photos of the receipt and the tracking number and send them to me. Once I confirm the package has been sent, I will deposit the money." He also sent a photo of his ID card with his address to reassure A.
Following B's instructions, A went to the convenience store, sent the package, and contacted B with the tracking number and confirmation that the package had been sent. B then said, "I am outside now; I will check when I get home and contact you," asking A to wait. He also added, "Sorry to keep you waiting; I will give you an extra 100,000 won." However, after several tens of minutes passed without any deposit, B replied, "The large transfer is being checked by the bank's customer center." After waiting a bit longer, A said, "If the deposit is not made in 10 minutes, I will cancel the transaction and retrieve the item," to which B explained, "The money will be deposited in installments of 9 million won." But in the end, no money was deposited, and B cut off contact.
Startled, A hurried back to the convenience store, but someone had already taken the package. Checking the closed-circuit television (CCTV), a man who appeared to be in his 60s or older showed the part-time worker a photo of the tracking number A had sent, saying, "I just sent a package but want to cancel it." The part-time worker went to the shelf, took out the package A had sent, and handed it to the man. The man then calmly left the convenience store. The part-time worker who handed over the package told 'Case Manager', "When A sent the package, it was not my shift, so I did not know the package owner was someone else," and added, "Customers often come back to retrieve packages for reasons like incorrect addresses. Since the man showed the receipt and barcode photo, I thought it was his package."
If the older man who took the package is the real culprit, the photos sent to A by B are presumed to have been stolen using someone else's ID. In fact, B's social media profile showed a photo of a seemingly affectionate couple, but this photo was stolen from a blogger who took it with their partner three years ago. Lawyer Park Ji-hoon said, "The man likely committed multiple fraud crimes besides this case," and added, "I hope the police catch him quickly." Professor Oh Yoon-sung also said, "Luxury watches have unique serial numbers that allow identification," adding, "If stolen luxury goods are sold, the culprit will be caught soon."
Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "Scammers' methods are becoming more diverse every day," "I hope the culprit is caught quickly," and "I hope the informant does not blame herself."
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