Iksan police detain man collecting 17.5 million won in phone scam after bank teller's tip
In short
Iksan police in North Jeolla said on 20 October that they are investigating a man in his 30s suspected of trying to collect 17.5 million won in voice-phishing money from a victim. A bank employee who found the withdrawal suspicious called police, and the cash was not lost.
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Iksan Police Station in North Jeolla said on 20 October that it is investigating a man in his 30s, identified as A, on suspicion of trying to collect voice-phishing money and pass it to a phishing group. The suspicion falls under the special act on preventing telecommunications financial fraud and refunding victims' assets. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo reported that he was arrested in the act. Yonhap said only that he is under investigation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the reports, A was to receive 17.5 million won in cash from the victim, identified as B, near an apartment in Yeongdeung-dong, Iksan, at around 16:45. Yonhap puts the date on the 28th of last month, while Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo say the 29th. Yonhap says B is in his or her 20s. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo say the handover was to take place on a street or road. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
B had received a call from someone posing as a savings bank employee who offered to switch B to a loan with a lower interest rate. Newsis quoted the caller as saying such a product existed but that B needed a transaction record with the bank to sign up. Dong-A Ilbo reported the same, saying the caller told B a transaction record was needed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
B went to a bank to withdraw cash. A bank employee who found the reason for the withdrawal suspicious reported it to police. Newsis said the employee sensed at once that it was voice phishing after hearing why B wanted to withdraw a large sum. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo reported that, after the report, police hid in plain clothes near the place where A and B were to meet and arrested A as the two met. Dong-A Ilbo said the 17.5 million won was not handed over, so the loss was prevented. A police official told Yonhap that the bank employee's quick report allowed A to be arrested fast and the loss to be prevented. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Dong-A Ilbo reported that A told police he agreed to go to the scene for a fee but did not know it was a voice-phishing crime. Police are investigating how A came to take part, according to Yonhap, and the details of the crime and whether there were other offences, according to Dong-A Ilbo. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The coverage presents the case as one in which a bank employee's quick report stopped a voice-phishing loss. The documents give no wider consequences.
Key facts
- North Jeolla's Iksan Police Station said on 20 October that it is investigating a man in his 30s, identified as A, over voice-phishing money. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A is suspected of receiving 17.5 million won from the victim, B, near an apartment in Yeongdeung-dong, Iksan, to pass it to a phishing group. [ 1 , 2 ]
- B was called by someone posing as a savings bank employee who offered a loan at a lower interest rate. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A bank employee who doubted B's reason for withdrawing cash reported it to police. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo reported that plainclothes police waited at the meeting place and arrested A in the act. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Police said the quick report allowed them to arrest A fast and prevent the loss. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Iksan Police Station announced on 20 October that a man in his 30s is under investigation on suspicion of trying to collect voice-phishing money of 17.5 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A bank employee who found the victim's cash withdrawal suspicious reported it to police. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The victim was deceived by a caller posing as a savings bank employee offering a lower-rate loan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The date of the planned handover. Yonhap says the 28th of last month, while Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo say the 29th.
- Whether A knew the money came from a crime. Only Dong-A Ilbo reports that A admitted going to the scene for a fee but said he did not know it was voice phishing; police are still investigating how he came to take part.
- Whether A was arrested in the act. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo say he was arrested in the act; Yonhap says only that he is under investigation and was quickly arrested.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap published its report on the police announcement. [ 1 ]
- Newsis published its report. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo published its report. [ 3 ]
- A was due to receive the cash from B near an apartment in Iksan, on the 28th of last month according to Yonhap and the 29th according to Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]