South Korean police bust crypto scammer who had plastic surgery done to evade arrest
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He had scammed victims of 16 billion won (S$15.6 million) in total.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SEOUL - South Korean police said on Aug 29 that they have arrested the leader of a cryptocurrency scam operation that defrauded investors of 16 billion won (S$15.6 million), and underwent plastic surgery to avoid being arrested.
The man in his 40s was apprehended earlier in August for deceiving 158 victims between November 2021 and June 2022 by promising a monthly return of 18 per cent on investments in a so-called cryptocurrency mining business, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
Police said the victims lost amounts ranging from 1.2 million won to 250 million won.
The man has been on the run for 10 months after failing to appear at his pre-trial detention hearing in September 2023. The court issued an arrest warrant and the police began tracking him down.
The athorities said he managed to evade investigators by altering his appearance through plastic surgery on his eyes, nose and face contour – which cost about 21 million won – and by wearing wigs.
The police said they were able to arrest the man in an apartment in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, by using surveillance footage, phone records and internet search histories. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
