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A civil servant from South Korea was apprehended on March 27 on allegations of engaging in crypto-related fraud and executing voice phishing schemes.
As reported by Fn News, the individual is a level six official at a district office in her 50s. Authorities indicated that she “received funds from several victims.”
According to police, she exchanged the fiat currency for Bitcoin (BTC). Subsequently, she allegedly transferred the coins to a “voice phishing gang member.”
South Korean Civil Servant ‘Affiliated with Voice Phishing Gang’
Law enforcement in Seoul’s Dongdaemun District stated they arrested the woman “on fraud charges” at a bank located in the Jegi Neighborhood.
Officials reported that the civil servant “converted more than $74,000 from her voice phishing fraud proceeds into Bitcoin.”
She then purportedly sent the coins “to a member of a voice phishing organization.” This individual allegedly compensated her with “a fee” for her involvement.
Seoul’s Dongdaemun District. (Source: Brit in Seoul [CC BY-SA 4.0])
The woman reportedly claimed she was “misled” into joining the gang by someone who suggested she could earn money “through legitimate means.”
A police representative mentioned that officers were still “investigating evidence.” They also stated they were “identifying potential additional victims.”
Authorities indicated they had searched locations associated with the civil servant and were currently analyzing further data.
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Police announced they were “conducting an investigation” to determine if the public official had utilized “information acquired at work” to target potential victims.
Increase in Crypto Crime?
In recent years, law enforcement has observed a rise in crypto-related offenses, including voice phishing. Perpetrators frequently impersonate civil servants, tax service employees, or bank representatives.
They often inform potential victims that their bank accounts are compromised or that they are under investigation for tax-related issues.
These attackers typically assert that they can resolve these problems and consistently request bank or crypto transfers to “finance” their “solutions.”
In June 2023, the country was shocked by the case of a government employee who allegedly fled to the Philippines after misappropriating approximately $3.5 million from the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC).
The NHIC manages South Korean nursing care funds. The civil servant reportedly embezzled the funds from April 2022 to September 2022.
He then allegedly converted the stolen money into cryptocurrency and subsequently fled to enjoy a “life of luxury” at a high-end resort in the Philippines.
Local authorities apprehended the man in January of this year, and he was repatriated to face charges shortly thereafter.
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In 2022, photographers captured a “high-ranking” South Korean civil servant purchasing Dogecoin (DOGE) on his mobile phone during a crucial local government meeting.
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