21-time Fraud Convict Commits Another Used Goods Transaction Fraud After Release 20240910
(Anchor Commentary)
A man in his 30s who habitually committed fraud in second-hand transactions has been arrested by the police.
It has been revealed that this man, who has a criminal record of 21 previous fraud convictions, did not stop his fraudulent activities even while being pursued by the police.
Reporter Bae Dae-won reports.
(Report)
This is a conversation between a second-hand transaction scammer and a victim.
He demanded that the money be sent before receiving the item, and reassured the victim by attaching a conversation with the owner of a delivery company.
However, it was a "two-person scam" where he pretended to be the delivery company owner using two mobile phones.
The attached photos of the second-hand items were also all obtained through internet searches. Over the course of about a month starting last July, the number of victims deceived by Mr. A, who is in his 30s, reached 33.
He extorted a total of 3.9 million won by offering various baits, such as tickets for soccer matches and concerts, and the transfer of online lectures. (Interview) Park Ji-yeon / Investigation Division 1, Ulsan Southern Police Station: "I committed the crime to secure funds for my own cyber gambling, living expenses, and escape."
Through a month-long investigation involving CCTV analysis and tracking, the police apprehended Mr. A at an internet cafe in Jung-gu.
The police detained Mr. A on charges of fraud and referred him to the prosecution.
Mr. A, who had previously been arrested for similar crimes, committed the offense again just three months after his release; it was confirmed that he has a criminal record of 21 previous fraud convictions.
He used only about 10 of his own accounts for the crimes and exhibited symptoms of addiction, continuing his fraudulent activities daily even after receiving a summons from the police. (Interview) Kim Sang-gyun / Professor, Department of Police Science, Baekseok University: "It is a complex combination of factors, such as the satisfaction derived from the rewards obtained through criminal acts and the irrational mindset that one will not be caught for their actions."
Experts advised that in such cases, vocational training and psychological treatment are necessary, stating that simple punishment alone is insufficient to prevent habitual offenses.
This is Bae Dae-won from ubc News.
September 10, 2024, Reporter Bae Dae-won