Gang Arrested and Indicted for Installing Relay Stations in Motels Nationwide, Stealing 1.1 Billion Won Using '010 Numbers'

Charged Under Anti-Telecom Fraud Laws

"Be Cautious Even if Caller ID Shows '010'"

Two men in their 20s have been indicted and detained for installing and operating "caller ID spoofing relay stations" in motels across the country under the direction of an overseas phishing organization. The phishing group is reported to have stolen approximately 1.1 billion won from 39 victims.

A mobile phone used as a caller ID spoofing relay device or charging inside a lodging room at the time of the suspect's arrest. Seoul Geumcheon Police Station

On June 10, the Geumcheon Police Station in Seoul announced that it had detained and referred two individuals in their 20s, identified as Mr. A and Mr. B, on charges of violating the Act on the Prevention of Damage from Telecommunications-Based Financial Fraud, the Telecommunications Business Act, and the Electronic Financial Transactions Act.

According to police, from October last year until last month, Mr. A and others allegedly moved between motels across the country, including in Cheonan (Chungnam), Guri (Gyeonggi), Changwon and Geoje (Gyeongnam), Gangneung (Gangwon), and Ulsan, relocating approximately every week to set up and operate caller ID spoofing relay stations.

The relay stations, operated by Mr. A and his accomplices using 136 burner phones and 395 SIM cards, were found to have manipulated outgoing calls and text messages from the overseas phishing organization so that the originating number appeared as a domestic "010" mobile phone number to Korean victims. In return for their crimes, they received monthly payments of between 4 million and 6 million won, along with accommodation expenses, from the phishing organization. It was determined that Mr. A was the first to participate in the scheme before recruiting Mr. B by telling him, "You can make a lot of money."

On May 27, police arrested them separately in a parking lot in Guri (Gyeonggi) and at a motel in Cheonan (Chungnam). Authorities are continuing to investigate additional offenses by Mr. A and others, as well as tracking the overseas ringleader. They are also expanding the investigation into about 90 individuals who provided names for burner phones and SIM cards, on suspicion of violating the Telecommunications Business Act.

A police official advised, "Even if the caller ID shows a '010' number, people should be especially cautious regarding calls requesting advance payment for goods or proxy purchases."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.