“$2,000 a month guaranteed”—A went to Cambodia and became a member of a romance-scam ring [Scammers]

[Financial News]“You can earn at least $2,000 a month doing website-related work in Southeast Asia.”This was an overseas job offer that A received from an acquaintance in January last year. Without knowing the specific duties, A headed to Cambodia a month later. The destination turned out to be a criminal organization running romance scams: its members approached victims while posing as people of the opposite sex, then steered them toward fake investments.
A was assigned the role of “chatter,” building close relationships with victims and then persuading them to install an investment app. The court found that A joined and worked for the criminal organization despite being aware that it might be involved in fraud.
The case began in Cambodia in February last year. A criminal organization led by a Chinese ringleader used social media (SNS) to approach victims in South Korea while posing as people of the opposite sex, build rapport with them, and then steer them toward fake investments.
The organization divided up roles among the ringleader, managers, and “chatters” who approached victims directly. The ringleader set up an office and obtained equipment for the crimes, as well as managing the proceeds, while managers trained members and directed the criminal activity.
The chatters persuaded victims to install investment apps by offering to introduce them to fund managers, recommended stocks, and made it seem as though real investments were taking place, thereby getting victims to deposit money.
A also worked as a chatter, managing accounts used to approach victims and encouraging them to install fake investment apps and join group chats. Members were promised a monthly salary equivalent to 3 million won, plus incentives based on their performance in the crimes.
The organization set up an office and accommodation in Cambodia and equipped them with computers, mobile phones, and other tools for the crimes. Guards were also posted at the office entrance to prevent members from leaving.
The members’ daily lives were also controlled. Managers set their work hours and required them to use aliases, while restricting unauthorized outings and personal use of the office Wi-Fi, among other things.
A lived at the local accommodation and office and worked as a member of the organization from February 7 to May 14 last year. A received a total of $5,000 over about three months. The court treated the money as criminal proceeds and ordered A to forfeit 6.74 million won, its equivalent in Korean currency.
According to legal circles on the 12th, a single-judge criminal panel at the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced A, who had been indicted on charges of joining and participating in a criminal organization, to three years in prison and ordered A to forfeit 6.74 million won. The judgment was handed down on the 15th of last month.
The court pointed out, “Organized voice-phishing crimes using telecommunications target an unspecified number of victims, inflict losses on them that are difficult to recover from, and also cause serious harm to our society.” It went on to find that severe punishment was unavoidable, given that A had joined and worked for a criminal organization formed to commit crimes with significant social harm.
In determining the sentence, however, the court took into account that A admitted to the crime and showed remorse, that family members and acquaintances appealed for leniency, and that A had no prior criminal record for offenses more serious than those punishable by a fine.
[email protected] Lee Dong-hyeok Reporter