Merchants targeted by 'no-show phishing' scams at Garak Market

Merchants at Seoul's Garak Market are facing a wave of sophisticated scams, prompting a police investigation into multiple fraud incidents. The latest case involves individuals posing as employees from the Korea National Sport University's general affairs team, targeting merchants with elaborate schemes.

According to the Songpa Police Station, a report was filed on August 18th by a Garak Market merchant suspecting a phishing scam. The case was transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's phishing fraud investigation unit on August 20th, where the investigation is ongoing. The perpetrators allegedly approached a merchant, claiming they needed to order supplies for the university's employee cafeteria.

To gain trust, the scammers presented forged documents, including a fake business registration certificate, university staff information, and a driver's license. They even requested the merchant to purchase items not sold in their store, directing them to buy from other specified vendors. The merchant eventually transferred about 10 million won to an account provided by the suspects. After losing contact with the individuals, the merchant suspected fraud and reported it to the police. The employee name listed on the business card provided by the suspect was reportedly not affiliated with the university.