Recently, actors Kang Dong-won, Nam Goong-min, Byun Woo-seok, Ha Jung-woo, and singers Lim Young-woong and Song Ga-in have been impersonated in a so-called 'no-show' scam, where individuals order expensive alcohol under the pretense of making a restaurant reservation but fail to show up. More recently, no-show scams impersonating the Democratic Party of Korea or People Power Party have also occurred. Such scams appear to be conducted from call centers based in Southeast Asia.
The Korean National Police Agency stated on the 20th that it has designated the cybercrime investigation unit of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency as the primary investigative body for these no-show scams, which are considered a form of phishing scam or cyber-based fraud.
The police also designated a special period for voluntary surrender and reporting until June 30. During this period, those who surrender will generally be investigated without detention, and this will be actively reflected in sentencing.
The police have identified that no-show scams are mainly carried out from call centers located in Southeast Asia. They also confirmed that recently several cases of impersonating politicians are similar in nature.
The police urged citizens, including self-employed individuals, to verify any suspicious orders regarding no-show scams by contacting the relevant public institution office or council office. Even if the perpetrator is caught, recovering the full amount of damages is difficult, so proactive prevention is important.
According to the police, no-show scams typically involve a two-step structure where the victim is requested to make a bulk order of items that they handle and asked to purchase items that they do not handle.
According to the police and local governments, on the 12th, a man impersonating a film production crew of actor Kang Dong-won called a restaurant in Geochang County, Gyeongnam, to reserve a group meal while demanding wine priced at approximately 3 million won per bottle. This man directed the restaurant to facilitate the purchase of two bottles of wine for staff consumption and one bottle of whiskey as a gift for the film director from a specific vendor he designated, ultimately swindling money.
At this point, if the victim contacts the number they received, another scammer will send a forged business card and business registration certificate to induce a money transfer. The crime is executed in such a way that once the victim transfers the money, they cut off communication.
The police stated that the second order requesting purchasing on behalf of another item not handled by the business is a typical form of no-show scam, so it is advisable to firmly refuse it. They added, "In a non-face-to-face context, everything could be fake, and we must remain vigilant."