• 34ºc, Sunny

Crypto fraud gang defrauded 16 billion won arrested, suspects evade tracking through plastic surgery and wigs

A South Korean criminal gang that defrauded about 16 billion won (about $11.96 million) from more than 150 victims has been arrested by police. To avoid being tracked by the police, the men underwent plastic surgery such as facial contouring surgery and wore wigs. From November 2021 to June 2022, the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Search Department of the Seoul Local Police Department deceived 158 victims and collected about 16 billion won from the victims, of which the gang leader A, who misappropriated about 4.50 billion won, was arrested on suspicion of fraud, violation of the quasi-receipt law and violation of the electronic law. A used a variety of escape methods. He performed double eyelid, nose, facial contouring surgery worth about 21 million won, and wore a wig. A also changed his residence frequently with the help of real-world friends, using fake mobile phones and fake bank accounts. The police seized and confiscated 100 million won from the hideout where A was arrested, and seized the 1.30 billion won assets of A and others before prosecution.