Two men who posted fake real estate listings on the secondhand trading platform Danggeun Market and stole down payments have been handed over to prosecutors while under arrest.
On July 22, the Mapo Police Station in Seoul announced that two men in their 30s have been arrested and referred to the prosecution on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, fraud, and attempted fraud.
According to the police, between February and June, the suspects posted fake villa and officetel listings in the southwestern area of Seoul on Danggeun Market at prices lower than the market rate. Using forged identification cards and falsified registration documents, they allegedly entered into remote contracts with 51 victims and stole a total of 350 million won in down payments.
The suspects reportedly obtained fake listing information, including addresses, photos, and passwords, through social networking services (SNS). They pretended to be licensed real estate agents, telling victims, "I'll give you the password so you can view the room."
It was also found that when victims who discovered the fraud demanded their down payments back, the suspects threatened to distribute sexually explicit photos of the victims that they had fabricated.
The crimes were systematically organized: one ringleader gave instructions in a group chat, and three accomplices provided listing information, which the suspects then used to post the fake listings. Police are continuing their investigation into the ringleader and the accomplices.
A police official stated, "Users of direct real estate transaction platforms should always be suspicious of properties that are priced significantly below market value, and must verify in advance whether the real estate agency actually exists and whether the agent is a real person."
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