$18.9 Million in Frozen Voice-Phishing Funds Refunded Through Crypto Exchanges
Summary
- Authorities said about $18.9 million in voice-phishing funds frozen at South Korea's five largest cryptocurrency exchanges was returned to roughly 1,100 victims.
- Police said they traced money flows through frozen crypto accounts and bank accounts over the past three years, identified the victims and carried out the refund process.
- They also said cases were found in which about $2.2 million did not return to victims after the crypto account freeze period, which is capped at six months under current law, expired.
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About $18.9 million in voice-phishing proceeds frozen at South Korea's major cryptocurrency exchanges has been returned to victims.
KBS reported on September 29 that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit had refunded about $18.9 million to roughly 1,100 victims. The funds had been frozen at the country's five largest cryptocurrency exchanges.
Police spent the past three years tracing the frozen funds, identifying victims and completing the refund process. They expanded the investigation after confirming in early 2023 that crypto accounts suspended for use in voice-phishing crimes still held large sums of victim money.
Investigators tracked the flow of funds through about 1,000 frozen crypto accounts and more than 160,000 bank accounts to identify the victims.
Police also found cases in which funds were disposed of after account freezes were lifted, exploiting a legal limit that caps freezes on crypto accounts used in crimes at six months. About $2.2 million was unable to be returned to victims in those cases.
Police are investigating 130 holders of the related accounts on suspicion of violating the law on the regulation of concealment of criminal proceeds.
Minseung Kang
minriver@bloomingbit.ioBlockchain journalist | Writer of Trade Now & Altcoin Now, must-read content for investors.