Believed 'Performance Loan' Needed, Ended Up as Accomplice by Giving Account

[Financial News] A man in his 50s who provided his account to a voice phishing organization was sentenced to a suspended prison term.
According to the legal community on the 3rd, the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced Mr. A (59), who was indicted for assisting in the violation of the Special Act on Prevention of Telecommunication Financial Fraud and Refund of Damages, to 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation last month on the 19th. He was also ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.
Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of handing over an account in his name to a voice phishing organization, allowing them to deposit approximately 10 million won in embezzled funds.
It was investigated that while looking into loans, he received a proposal via phone call and KakaoTalk message saying, 'To get a loan, there must be many deposit and withdrawal records and many transaction performances. If you provide your account, we will deposit money into it, and you should withdraw the money and deliver it to our employee.'
It is known that after accepting the proposal, he sent his account number and ID photo.
Mr. A's account was found to have been used to receive embezzled funds from voice phishing.
It was also reported that Mr. A purchased 19 gift certificates with the embezzled funds worth approximately 10 million won, exchanged them back for cash at a discount, and delivered them to the organization.
The court stated, "Even on the company's website that the defendant claimed to have checked, only 'debt consolidation' products were promoted, and there was no information introducing 'performance loans,'" and "Considering the defendant's age and experience, it seems that the defendant must have been aware of the unusual nature."
Furthermore, "The defendant assisted the crimes of the organization members," the court said, "Voice phishing crimes are carried out through the organic cooperation of accomplices, and even if the defendant did not fully recognize the entire process of embezzlement, his assistance in part of the process is by no means a light offense."jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter