The government’s Transnational Crime Special Response Task Force achieved a significant result by arresting 26 members of a scam crime organization in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since February last year. These criminals impersonated national institutions and committed sexual exploitation crimes against women.
The arrested crime organization, based in Phnom Penh, deceived victims by impersonating prosecutors and financial authorities, making them believe they were involved in crimes. They isolated the victims in accommodations, preventing external contact, and extorted approximately 26.7 billion KRW from 165 South Korean citizens under the pretext of property investigation.
The criminals particularly targeted numerous female victims residing in South Korea, rendering them helpless through continuous deception. They extorted money and forced the victims to create or send sexually exploitative videos and photos.
This case highlights the evolution of scam crimes from merely stealing valuable assets to exploiting psychological weaknesses, leading to the complete destruction of victims’ lives. The arrests were made possible through the cooperation of Cambodia’s ‘Korea Task Force’ and the National Intelligence Service, who identified the locations of the organization’s offices and accommodations and conducted a raid on January 5. The government plans to block the distribution of sexually exploitative videos immediately, thoroughly investigate all criminal allegations, and swiftly extradite and punish the criminals. Additionally, they will collaborate with relevant institutions to provide effective treatment and prevention measures for the female victims.