60s Fugitive Who Scammed 17.7 Billion Won in Cryptocurrency for 5 Years Caught While Smoking

[Financial News] A man in his 60s, who had been on the run for several years after swindling around 17.7 billion won from over 1,300 people in a cryptocurrency scam, was caught by the police while discarding a cigarette butt. The police were patrolling to prevent relational crimes that have been occurring frequently recently.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Mobile Patrol Unit announced on the 22nd that they arrested a wanted suspect, Mr. A (60), on fraud charges in the Sillim Station area of Gwanak-gu, Seoul, at around 11:30 a.m. on the 20th.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had deployed the Mobile Patrol Unit in the Sillim Station area as part of efforts to prevent relational crimes, conducting preventive patrol activities such as questioning suspicious individuals and those suspected of carrying weapons.
At the time, Mr. A attempted to flee after discarding a cigarette butt when he saw the police, and when the police tried to apprehend him, he tried to get into a taxi, pleading "just this once."
Even after being stopped by the police, Mr. A pretended to be on a call using his mobile phone to buy time and escape the scene, but under police questioning, it was revealed that he was a wanted suspect for fraud.
Investigations revealed that Mr. A had swindled around 17.7 billion won from over 1,300 victims in a cryptocurrency scam from 2018 to 2019 and had been on the run for about 5 years until his arrest in 2020. He also had 10 other warrants for fraud and assault.
A spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said, "Through questioning suspicious individuals, we can preemptively block criminal intent and apprehend wanted suspects," and added, "We will continue to strengthen preventive patrols in areas where violent crimes are likely to occur and do our best to enhance citizens' sense of safety."
Meanwhile, the Mobile Patrol Unit also discovered a suspicious vehicle wandering near the cycle racing track in the Sillim Station area several times in the first half of this year, and through questioning, arrested a wanted suspect operating an illegal gambling site worth 800 billion won.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter