129 Cases Reported, Damages Reach 2 Billion Won
Warning Issued Over Impersonation of Public Institutions
The Gwangju Police Agency announced on June 23 that it has formed a dedicated investigation team to probe a series of so-called "no-show scams," in which perpetrators impersonate public institutions or political parties to place orders for goods and then demand proxy purchases.
On May 22, the police launched an investigation team composed of eight units and 41 members. So far, they have arrested three suspects and booked 21 others, while four individuals remain under pursuit. The suspects were found to have collaborated with overseas criminal organizations by providing hundreds of mobile phones and receiving commissions in cryptocurrency.
According to the investigation, the overseas organizations operated in a highly organized manner, dividing roles into teams responsible for deceiving victims, connecting international calls to appear as domestic calls, and laundering the stolen funds. Authorities also confirmed that the suspects changed their hideouts on a monthly basis to evade law enforcement tracking.
No-show scam cases in Gwangju have surged since April this year, reaching 129 cases with total damages amounting to 2 billion won as of June 9. The most commonly impersonated entities were the military, correctional institutions, and fire departments, in that order. There were also six cases involving impersonation of a political party (the Democratic Party of Korea).
The police warned that if a large order is placed through a non-face-to-face transaction or if there is a request for proxy purchase of unfamiliar goods, there is a 100% chance it could be a scam. They urged the public to always verify through the official phone number of the relevant institution. In addition, the police are sharing recent cases and preventive measures with local governments, the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, and merchant associations to strengthen prevention efforts.
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