[Exclusive] Korean members of 'romance scam' operation based in Cambodia extradited

Extradited to Korea after 5 weeks of local arrest

Exploiting romantic feelings to extort money

Some members claim to be victims of employment fraud

A Korean criminal organization that had been running 'romance scams' and 'cryptocurrency investment fraud' from Cambodia has been extradited to South Korea. This comes 5 weeks after the members were arrested by local police.

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Division of Ulsan Police Agency announced on the 12th that they have arrested 7 members of the phishing organization and are investigating them on charges of fraud and joining a criminal organization. The suspects are accused of setting up an illegal call center equipped with burner phones and computers in a criminal complex last December, and running romance scams (fraud disguised as romantic relationships) since January.

The members were arrested by local police at a criminal complex in Poipet, Cambodia on February 3. After being investigated locally for about a month, they were extradited to South Korea through Incheon International Airport at 6 AM on the 11th.

According to police, the suspects created fake profiles and joined dating apps such as 'Angtalk' and 'Whisper,' building trust with victims through daily conversations. They then allegedly lured victims to fake cryptocurrency investment websites under the pretext of "studying investment together" and stole their money.

Ulsan Police plan to investigate the specific methods of the crime using 9 computers that Cambodian police seized at the scene and brought to Korea.

Some members of the organization are reportedly claiming to be victims of employment fraud. They allege they were brought to Cambodia after seeing false job advertisements promising "legal work with guaranteed high income," only to be confined and forced to participate in the criminal activities.

One member, Mr. Lee (29), said in a phone interview with this newspaper, "I got a job through an acquaintance I met on Telegram and went to Thailand," adding, "I was put in a car by organization members I met there, taken to Poipet, and handed over to the criminal complex." Poipet, located in northwest Cambodia, is a border city adjacent to Thailand.

A police official stated, "The extradited members are being held in detention cells while under investigation," adding, "We will do our best to prove the charges."

Reporter Kim Da-bin davinci@hankyung.com