Police bust China-based phishing ring with local police

Chunchon — Authorities in Korea and China have jointly apprehended a total of ten individuals, six from each nation, in connection with a suspected China-based phishing operation, officials announced on Tuesday. The suspects are alleged to have defrauded approximately ten billion won, or roughly seven and a quarter million US dollars, from one hundred and eighteen Korean victims, primarily those aged sixty and above, between January 2025 and March of the current year, according to the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency.

The Korean nationals have since been returned to their home country and referred to the prosecution. Authorities allege that the perpetrators deceived their victims by falsely informing them that a check card bearing their name had been issued, subsequently installing malicious applications designed to intercept phone calls when victims attempted to verify or contact law enforcement.

The suspects reportedly operated call centers in China, assuming various false identities such as card delivery drivers, card company security personnel, police officers, officials from the Financial Supervisory Service, and prosecutors. This operation was executed as part of a joint investigation undertaken by the Gangwon police and China's Jilin Provincial Public Security Department, according to an official statement.