Police in South Korea have arrested 22 people suspected of laundering money for a Cambodia-based “romance scam” organization. The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 15th that the suspects, including a 26-year-old identified only as A, face charges of joining and operating a criminal organization and violating the Communications Fraud Damage Refund Act. Bench warrants were requested for two of them.
Investigators say A and others laundered more than 18 billion Korean won for a criminal group operating in Cambodia between last summer and recent months. Among the funds were around 12 billion won obtained from over 100 male victims who were deceived through online “romance scam” schemes that promised romantic relationships or investment opportunities. The fraud operators reportedly ran call center offices in Cambodia to conduct the scams.
The suspects allegedly converted the illicit funds into virtual currency, kept about 10% as commission, and transferred the remaining money to the Cambodian crime network. Since February, the Ulsan Metropolitan Police have arrested a total of 53 people—34 of them detained—from both the laundering and scam operations. Red notices have also been requested through Interpol for 28 additional suspects who have fled overseas.
Authorities revealed that the Korean masterminds of the romance scam, a married couple identified as Kang (31) and Ahn (29), remain at large. The pair were previously detained by Cambodian police but allegedly bribed officials to secure their release, complicating efforts to bring them back to Korea. Reports suggest they have undergone full-body plastic surgery, including facial reconstruction, to evade detection.
A police official said, “We will continue to track and apprehend the two masterminds through joint investigations with local police and government authorities.”
