Nine members of an organization who illegally opened and distributed over 200 bank accounts under the name of ghost companies have been brought to trial.
Crime structure chart of large-scale bankbook distribution organization. Provided by Dongbu District Prosecutors' Office
The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office Voice Phishing Crime Joint Investigation Team (Joint Investigation Team, led by Hong Wan-hee) announced on the 8th that they have arrested and indicted nine members of a 30-something bank account distribution organization on charges of organizing and participating in a criminal organization, violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act, and aiding fraud.
According to the Joint Investigation Team, from December 2023 over eight months, they organized a criminal group aimed at opening and distributing bank accounts under the names of ghost companies. The defendants operated the organization systematically by dividing roles into general manager, manager, recruiter, and director. The members were all in their 20s and 30s, born between 1989 and 1996.
The members are also accused of establishing 45 ghost companies and opening 213 bank accounts under those names. These bank accounts were confirmed to have been stored for distribution to voice phishing and illegal gambling site operation organizations.
Furthermore, it was investigated that by providing these bank accounts to voice phishing organizations, the members caused damage amounting to approximately 4.3 billion KRW from 102 victims.
The Joint Investigation Team has taken measures to confiscate and preserve criminal proceeds amounting to 254.4 million KRW and requested financial institutions to suspend payments on 174 bank accounts that the members were holding.
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