Prosecutors indicted a 56-year-old man on charges of aiding a massive voice phishing scam involving 134 million won in apartment purchase checks. The suspect, who collected the funds, hid them and handed over an empty bag to other fraudsters, authorities revealed.
Incident Details
Last November, the man intercepted a paper bag containing checks worth 134 million won ($97,000) from a voice phishing operation on a road in Namdong-gu, Incheon. Instead of delivering it to the scammers, he concealed the checks and passed along a vacant bag, investigators determined.
Investigation and Confession
During initial questioning, the suspect claimed he discarded the checks in a subway station restroom. However, after remand to prosecutors, further probes led him to admit hiding them in pieces. Officials emphasized that the funds represented a 60-year-old victim’s entire life savings from 27 years of factory work to support his three sons.
Search of the suspect’s vehicle uncovered the checks, which prosecutors promptly returned to the victim.
Victim’s Gratitude
The victim expressed profound relief, stating, “This was everything I saved over 27 years working in a factory while raising three sons.”
Prosecution’s Stance
Investigators noted that aggressive follow-up work prevented the loss of crime proceeds and restored the victim’s assets. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat voice phishing through victim fund recovery under special telecommunications fraud prevention laws.
