South Korean man jailed for phone-damage scam and stalking

Chuncheon, South Korea – A man in his early 20s has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for a sophisticated scam that involved intentionally bumping into people and demanding repair fees for a deliberately broken mobile phone. The court also ordered him to complete a 40-hour stalking treatment program and repay over 820,000 won (approximately $620 USD) to victims.

The defendant, identified as 'A,' aged 21, was found guilty of fraud, attempted fraud, stalking, and assault. Between September of last year and January of this year, he targeted individuals in busy areas like the Chuncheon Bus Terminal, often selecting young adults such as soldiers and university students. He would deliberately collide with them, drop his pre-damaged phone, and then demand compensation for repairs.

“

The nature of the crime, including the method and content, is bad, and the amount defrauded is large at over 68 million won.

Authorities revealed that 'A' managed to defraud 11 victims, obtaining approximately 7.9 million won (around $6,000 USD). In addition to these successful frauds, he also attempted to extort money from three other individuals. The court noted that in one instance, he extorted over 41 million won (approximately $31,000 USD) from a victim by threatening not to involve the police and urging them not to inform his parents.

“

The defendant's post-crime behavior is also poor, including lying about his whereabouts when summoned by investigators.

Further complicating his case, 'A' was also convicted of stalking his ex-girlfriend, despite her requests for no contact. He repeatedly contacted her, sent money via bank transfers as a method of communication, and even approached her residence. Despite receiving emergency protective measures from the police, including a 100-meter exclusion zone and communication restrictions, he continued to message her just hours later.

The court highlighted the severity of his actions, stating, "The nature of the crime, including the method and content, is bad, and the amount defrauded is large at over 68 million won (approximately $50,000 USD)." The judge also pointed to his poor post-crime behavior, including lying about his whereabouts when summoned by investigators, and his prior conviction for fraud, which led to the imposition of a prison sentence.

“

I will not involve the police, so give me repair costs. Do not make a big deal out of this. Do not tell your parents, or you will go to jail.