Nationwide Fraud Alert: Impersonators Targeting Businesses
Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do – A surge in sophisticated fraud schemes impersonating celebrities has left self-employed individuals reeling across South Korea. Police have cautioned the public to remain vigilant, especially against scam operations mimicking military units and government offices.
The latest incident involves a self-employed man in Changwon who was deceived after a fraudulent reservation request linked to singer Nam Jin’s 60th anniversary concert. The scammer posed as an employee from Nam Jin’s agency, requesting a booking for 20 people and persuading the restaurant owner to make a substantial advance payment for high-priced alcoholic beverages.
Despite initial hesitance, the restaurant owner paid approximately 4.7 million won to the fraudster, who subsequently vanished after sending a curt message to cancel the dinner. Upon investigating, the owner discovered an advisory notice on the real Nam Jin agency’s site, confirming the existence of similar scams.
The Changwon Jungbu Police Station has received multiple complaints from local businesses regarding this impersonation scheme, which is not confined to just Nam Jin. Other celebrities, such as actor Nam Goong-min and singer Song Ga-in, have also reported fraudulent activities involving impersonators attempting to extract payments for phantom services.
Authorities suspect organized crime networks may be orchestrating these scams, as attacks have also included impersonations of broadcasting production teams. The KBS2 entertainment program "One Night and Two Days" has warned restaurants against accepting large reservations that could end in no-shows.
Police officials emphasize that businesses should be wary of any requests for advance payments, urging victims to report suspicious activities immediately to help combat these deceptive practices.
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