4 Koreans nabbed for fraud

MANILA, Philippines - Four Koreans were arrested for allegedly defrauding a fellow Korean’s sister of P2 million by claiming he met an accident and needed money for his hospitalization, a police official said yesterday.

Jhee Kim, alias Jien Jia; Leon Lee Su; Byeongha Moon and Ho Kim Jin were apprehended in Parañaque City based on a warrant issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Lyliha Aquino for violating the access devices law, according to Anti-Cybercrime Group chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa.

“This type of telecom fraud is committed through ‘voice phishing’ wherein the Korean syndicate residing in the Philippines will call up and trick the victim’s relatives in Korea to send money in the Philippines either to cover hospitalization or settle a business problem,” Sosa said.

The complainant, Lee Hang Sun, said he met Jien while on vacation in the Philippines. Lee said Jien told him she can help him if he experiences any problems during his stay in the country. He said that prompted him to give Jien his sister’s contact number in Korea.