'Secondhand Sales Scam' Using 30 Bank Accounts: Suspect Finally Caught

Accused of Defrauding 56 People Out of 14 Million Won

On January 23, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the Ansan Sangnok Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, that a suspect identified as A has been arrested and is under investigation on fraud charges.

From September of last year until this month, A is accused of defrauding 56 people out of approximately 14 million won by operating on secondhand goods trading websites and apps.

Exterior view of Ansan Sangnok Police Station, Gyeonggi Province. Provided by Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency. Yonhap News Agency

A used a method where he provided his own bank account number and instructed victims to transfer money. The amounts ranged from as little as about 100,000 won to as much as 2 million won. A closely monitored posts from individuals expressing interest in purchasing specific items such as golf clubs, silver spoons, watches, and electronic devices. When such posts appeared, he would pretend to be a seller and approach the poster under false pretenses.

He reportedly opened more than 30 bank accounts under his own name on a regular basis, apparently out of concern that his personal information would be registered on the scam victim inquiry website "TheCheat."

The victims received new account numbers each time, which had not been used in previous crimes, making it difficult for them to suspect him. As a result, even through the relevant websites, they were unable to verify A's criminal history before proceeding with the transactions.

Subsequently, reports against A were filed from various regions across the country. The Ansan Sangnok Police Station, which has jurisdiction over A's residence, consolidated all related cases and conducted an investigation. The police applied for an arrest warrant and received approval from the court on January 21. In police questioning, A stated that he used the stolen funds to pay living expenses and repay debts.

A is known to have resumed his criminal activities less than three months after being paroled following a previous conviction for a similar offense.

Previously, on January 23, the Daegu District Court sentenced a woman in her 30s to one year in prison for posting false listings on secondhand goods trading sites and defrauding victims out of large sums of money. She was indicted for posting fake ads for luxury bags on Naver Cafe Junggonara and Danggeun Market in 2024, and defrauding five people out of 9 million won.