“I’ll tell you the winning Lotto 6/45 numbers” ... Person in their 30s pockets 6.6 billion won with random numbers; sentenced to 7 years in prison

[Financial News] A ringleader who swindled victims out of several billion won by promising to provide winning Lotto 6/45 numbers through an analysis system was sentenced to prison.
According to Yonhap News Agency and other outlets on the 1st, Judge Kim Ji-hu of Incheon District Court’s Criminal Division 2, sitting alone, sentenced A, 33, identified as the ringleader, to seven years in prison on charges including fraud and organizing a criminal group.
A was indicted on charges of setting up an office in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, and operating two lottery-number prediction websites from April 2021 to August 2023, defrauding members recruited through the sites of 6.624 billion won in approximately 14,000 instances.
The investigation found that after taking over two existing websites, A built an organization comprising a representative, an office manager, and first- and second-tier telemarketers (TMs), and systematically recruited members. Investigators also found that member lists purchased from illicit businesses were used in the scheme.
Every week, every Saturday, when the winning results were announced, TM employees—following A’s instructions—deceived victims by claiming that second- or third-prize Lotto numbers had been correctly predicted, despite there having been no actual win. He also urged them to sign up for higher-tier memberships costing at least 1.1 million won or at least 2.2 million won, promising to extend their service period if they did not win. However, investigators confirmed that all the numbers given to victims had been selected at random.
The court explained its reasons for sentencing, saying, “The defendant’s conduct was extremely serious in nature, and the culpability is grave given the large scale of the losses caused by the organized fraud,” while adding, “We took into account, among other things, that the defendant is remorseful and that some victims whose losses were repaid do not want the defendant punished.”
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter