"I'm a cancer patient too"... A 10-year friend's betrayal that swindled 100 million won by exploiting shared suffering [Scammers]

If you lend me 20 million won, I'll pay 400,000 won in interest per month and definitely pay it back in 5 months. I'm having a really hard time right now too, so please help me out. " In July 2022, the cell phone of Mr.A, who was enduring painful chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer, rang. The voice on the other end of the line belonged to Mr. B (66), an acquaintance with whom he had maintained a relationship for over 10 years.Mr. B, who had also been diagnosed with lymphoma and undergone chemotherapy, was someone who understood Mr. A's pain and plight better than anyone.
Mr. A was swayed by a deep sense of camaraderie stemming from being "fellow cancer patients," and by Mr. B’s explanation that he would even pay high interest out of concern for him despite his own difficult circumstances.Mr. A was swayed by a deep sense of camaraderie stemming from being "fellow cancer patients," and by Mr. B’s explanation that he would even pay high interest out of concern for him despite his own difficult circumstances.
At the time, he had already taken out a loan of 800 million won using his apartment as collateral, and the money borrowed through credit card loans and private money alone amounted to 200 million won. Although the monthly loan interest alone was close to several million won, Mr. 3 million won.
It was also difficult for him to earn money consistently due to his poor health. Unaware of these circumstances, Mr.
A felt pity for Mr. B.
Mr. A was swayed by a deep sense of camaraderie stemming from being "fellow cancer patients," and by Mr. B’s explanation that he would even pay high interest out of concern for him despite his own difficult circumstances.Mr. A was swayed by a deep sense of camaraderie stemming from being "fellow cancer patients," and by Mr. B’s explanation that he would even pay high interest out of concern for him despite his own difficult circumstances.Exploiting long-standing trust and a sense of camaraderie, B approached A under the pretense of asking about her well-being while continuously demanding money, extorting a massive sum of 105 million won over 13 occasions between July 2022 and August 2023. Used for debt rollover and consistent excuses.
Court: "Gross nature of crime, prison sentence" B used the money extorted from A to send to her children's accounts or to pay off existing financial debts. In court, she consistently offered excuses, claiming, "I had sufficient ability to repay the debt using the proceeds from the sale of inventory at my daughter's clothing business and compensation for land expropriation from my ex-husband's acquaintance.
" However, the investigation revealed that the daughter's clothing shopping mall was in the process of closing down due to almost no sales, and that there was no reasonable basis for paying the land expropriation compensation to B. According to legal sources on the 28th, Judge Jang Won-jeong of the 9th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced B to 10 months in prison on the 9th for fraud.
The court pointed out, "The nature of the crime is very serious considering the modus operandi—approaching the victim under the pretext of checking on their well-being by exploiting the trust formed during their battle with cancer, and continuously borrowing large sums of money while paying partial interest—and the amount defrauded. " The court further ruled, "Since almost no recovery of damages has been made, and although the defendant deposited 10 million won as criminal compensation, the victim refused to accept it and demanded severe punishment, a prison sentence is unavoidable.
" However, the court noted that since the defendant had paid approximately 35 million won in interest and principal so far, the actual amount of damages is They stated that factors such as the amount being lower than the indictment, the fact that the offender is a first-time offender with no prior criminal record of a similar nature, and poor health condition were taken into account in sentencing.
Mr. A was swayed by a deep sense of camaraderie stemming from being "fellow cancer patients," and by Mr. B’s explanation that he would even pay high interest out of concern for him despite his own difficult circumstances.Mr. A was swayed by a deep sense of camaraderie stemming from being "fellow cancer patients," and by Mr. B’s explanation that he would even pay high interest out of concern for him despite his own difficult circumstances.
[email protected] Seo Ji-yoon Reporter