Fraudster Manipulating 60 Billion Nyang of Game Money in 'Geosang'... Sentenced to Imprisonment in Reality

[Financial News] A man in his 30s was sentenced to prison for defrauding cash and game money through false transactions in an online game. The court did not recognize a suspended sentence due to repetitive and planned crimes and accumulated criminal records.
According to the legal community on the 4th, the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 5 (Chief Judge Kim Hyung-seok) sentenced Mr. A (36), who was indicted for fraud and violation of the Telecommunications Business Act, to six months in prison on the 17th of last month.
Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of posting false game money transaction posts in the community related to the online game 'Geosang' and not paying the price or sending the game money for about three months from October last year.
Geosang is an online game focused on trade and transactions where users buy and sell regional specialties using virtual currency 'Nyang' to increase their assets. Since economic activities are central to the game, cash transactions of game money between users are actively conducted.
According to the judgment, A mainly approached victims by saying, "I will sell 60 billion Nyang of game money for 1 million won in cash," and "I will buy game money," and the total damage to 10 victims amounted to 13 million won. Mr. A repeatedly conducted transactions despite knowing that trading illegally obtained game money could result in the suspension of the other party's account, and he also used a mobile phone opened with another person's SIM card for the crime.
During the trial, Mr. A admitted to the charges, stating "I needed living expenses," and returned or deposited money to most of the victims. Some victims submitted a statement of non-punishment intention.
However, the court stated, "The defendant has been punished several times for similar crimes such as game money fraud in the past, and this crime was also planned and repeated," and "The fact that he used a telecommunications network opened in another person's name for the crime is also serious." It further explained the reason for sentencing by saying, "Considering the accumulated criminal records of the same kind and the nature of the crime, a suspended sentence is inappropriate."

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter