"Tragedy in Cambodia"... Another Member of Voice Phishing Bank Account Ring Arrested After University Student's Death

Sending Young People to Overseas Voice Phishing Rings
Opening and Delivering Bank Accounts
Gyeongbuk Police Track Down and Detain Suspects

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Police Agency announced on October 17 that it had additionally arrested and detained suspect A, a person in their 20s who recruited university students to travel to Cambodia and become involved with a voice phishing organization, by providing them with bank accounts under false names.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency. Photo by Kwon Byunggeon

Suspect A is accused of receiving an introduction to university student C, an acquaintance of suspect B, from suspect B-who was arrested and detained in September-and then having C open a bank account in C's name, which was subsequently delivered to a local criminal organization in Cambodia.

A's actions constitute a violation of the Special Act on the Prevention of Damage from Telecommunications-Based Financial Fraud and Refund for Damage.

University student C, who was found dead in Cambodia in August, was a victim associated with this organization. Police identified links between C and the recruiters of false-name bank accounts through C's call records and remittance statements.

After first arresting and detaining suspect B last month, the Gyeongbuk police apprehended accomplice A on October 16 on a street in Incheon. The police are focusing their investigation on the specific circumstances under which the university student was sent to Cambodia, the higher-ups involved, and any connections to overseas organizations.

An official from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency stated, "Luring young people overseas and exploiting them as tools for criminal organizations is clearly a serious crime," adding, "We will thoroughly investigate whether there are additional accomplices and hold all those responsible fully accountable."

This case reveals the reality of a 'new type of human trafficking voice phishing,' which goes beyond simple false-name bank account crimes by exposing young people to overseas criminal organizations. In addition to prompt international cooperation by the police, there is an urgent need to strengthen financial fraud prevention education and monitoring systems targeting young people.