Cambodia 'Ma Dong-seok Group' Voice Phishing Ring Receives Prison Sentences of Up to 3 Years and 6 Months in First Trial

[Financial News] Three members of a corporate-style voice phishing organization based in Cambodia, who operated under the direction of ringleader Ma Dong-seok, were sentenced to prison in their first trial.
On the 31st, the 15th Criminal Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kim Yang-hoon, sentenced Jeong (26) and Choi (31), who were indicted on charges including joining a criminal organization, to three years and six months in prison each.
On the same day, the 11th Criminal Division, presided over by Chief Judge Kang Min-ho, sentenced Kim (30), who was indicted on the same charges, to two years and six months in prison.
The court stated, "Voice phishing is a crime that targets an unspecified number of people and is highly organized and specialized, causing significant social harm." The court explained the sentencing, noting, "By joining the criminal organization and acting as call center operators who deceived victims, the defendants played a central role in the crimes." The court also ordered the forfeiture of criminal proceeds: 17,469,900 KRW from Jeong, 12,478,500 KRW from Choi, and 2,843,000 KRW from Kim.
Previously, Jeong, Choi, and others were indicted for working as operators of the 'romance scam team' at the Cambodia-based 'Hanya Call Center' from October last year to January this year, impersonating sex workers and defrauding five victims of about 300 million KRW. Prosecutors had sought eight-year prison terms for Jeong and Choi. Kim was also accused of acting as a call center operator and extorting hundreds of millions of KRW from victims.
The organization they belonged to was reportedly led by a foreigner known as Ma Dong-seok and operated with specialized roles such as fund transfers, romance scams, and webcam blackmail.
yesji@fnnews.com Yeji Kim Reporter