SEOUL—Twenty-five members of the 'Yong Hyung-nim' (meaning 'Dragon Brother's Company') crime ring, a voice phishing organization based in Pattaya, Thailand, have been apprehended for defrauding 878 South Koreans out of over ₩21 billion (approximately $15.5 million USD) through various scams. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Financial Crime Investigation Unit announced on September 22nd that they have arrested 25 individuals, with 21 of them being detained.
A Multifaceted Criminal Operation
The organization, named after its Chinese-national ringleader, 'Zilong,' operated from July of last year to July of this year, using a variety of deceptive schemes:
Romance Scams (Romance Fraud): The group used stolen photos from social media to build trust with victims. They would then trick victims into depositing money on a fake website, promising them airline tickets for a trip together as a reward for completing "missions."
Crypto Scams: Posing as a lottery recommendation website, the group obtained customer information and convinced victims to buy cryptocurrencies under the guise of a refund or as compensation for personal information leaks.
'No-Show' Fraud: This team impersonated large organizations, such as military units, to place massive orders with small businesses. They would then trick the vendors into buying specific products or ingredients to fulfill the order, only to disappear after the purchase was made.
Impersonation Scams: Other members impersonated prosecutors or financial authorities, demanding money from victims by claiming their bank accounts were linked to criminal activities.
Strict Internal Control and International Cooperation
The ringleader, Zilong, who previously held a senior position in a Cambodian-based fraud group, moved to Thailand to form his own organization. He recruited additional members through job advertisements and promotional efforts, establishing the 'Yong Hyung-nim' company. The group enforced strict control over its members, limiting their use of personal phones, restricting restroom breaks, and even resorting to brutal violence with weapons against those who disobeyed.
The investigation was launched after the South Korean Embassy in Thailand received a report that a Korean citizen was being held captive and requested assistance from the Thai police. In June, Thai police raided a resort in Pattaya, arresting 20 members. An additional nine members, including the ringleader and team leaders, were later arrested thanks to continued cooperation between South Korean and Thai authorities.
At a police briefing, Colonel Thatchai Pitanilabut of the Thai Police Scam Task Force explained the challenges of prosecuting the gang in Thailand, as their victims were all in South Korea. He stated, "After discussions with the Korean police, we decided it would be best to send them to Korea to be processed." He emphasized ongoing cooperation to combat similar crimes targeting Korean citizens in Thailand.
The police plan to expand their investigation to uncover other connected organizations and offices in Thailand. They have also warned the public to be cautious of online scams, reminding everyone to be wary of individuals and promises they encounter online.
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