South Korea busts illegal relay station disguising overseas phishing calls as domestic numbers

Authorities have apprehended a group accused of running an illegal private relay station that masked overseas voice phishing calls to appear as domestic South Korean mobile numbers. The operation, which utilized over 700 mobile phones and communication equipment, aimed to deceive victims by presenting international calls as originating from familiar '010' numbers. Police have initiated proceedings to freeze approximately 1.18 billion won ($900,000 USD) in criminal proceeds linked to the scheme.

The Gyeonggi Paju Police arrested five individuals, including a man in his 30s identified as 'A,' the alleged ringleader, and other managers, on charges of violating the Telecommunications Business Act and fraud. According to police, from early September last year until their arrest on February 28, the group installed burner phones and communication devices in apartments and officetels across the Seoul metropolitan area, including Paju and Incheon. Their operation altered the caller ID of overseas phishing calls to mimic domestic mobile numbers, making them harder for victims to suspect.

Investigations revealed that the suspects frequently moved their hideouts in apartments and officetels to evade law enforcement. Through surveillance and tracking their movements, police identified their locations and made the arrests. Seized from the hideouts and vehicles were over 700 mobile phones, communication equipment such as laptops and Wi-Fi routers, and approximately 70 million won in cash.

Police traced the accounts where victim funds were deposited, identifying the specific criminal proceeds amounting to 1.182 billion won. A pre-trial confiscation and preservation order was obtained from the court, a procedure designed to prevent the suspects from absconding with their illicit gains before the trial concludes.