A South Korean girl has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a “buddy’s” $481,000 crypto holdings to repay her money owed.
Police in Jeju Dongbu Police Station, within the self-governing Jeju Island Province, mentioned the girl was aged “in her 40s,” the media outlet Newsis reported on January 16.
South Korean Girl ‘Fled After Stealing Crypto’
A Jeju police spokesperson mentioned the unnamed girl could also be responsible of “fraud and theft.” Officers suppose that she could have violated the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Particular Financial Crimes.
Police suppose the girl stole a cellphone from the “sufferer” (named as B in media retailers) on the latter’s residence in Jeju Metropolis at 11:50pm on January 7.
Officers suppose the girl realized B’s private data “upfront.” She then allegedly used this “to unlock the cellphone.”
The girl then allegedly offered round 700 million gained ($481,000) price of crypto for money, presumably utilizing crypto trade and banking apps on B’s telephone.
She then reportedly transferred the fiat to her personal financial institution accounts.
Police suppose the girl fled shortly after. Officers claimed she “boarded an airplane” sure for an additional a part of South Korea “on the morning of January 8.”
Nevertheless, after B reported the “theft” to the police, officers have been fast to behave. Police traced the suspect’s whereabouts to a lodge in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on the identical day.
Officers confirmed they’d arrested the girl “on an emergency foundation.”
South Korea is contemplating shopping for extra oil and fuel from the US to diversify its power sources and likewise doubtlessly head off the specter of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs https://t.co/PxwF53tcNf
— Bloomberg (@enterprise) January 16, 2025
‘Mates’ Met on a Chat App
A spokesperson mentioned the duo had “met on a cellular chat app platform a number of months in the past.” Nevertheless, officers didn’t say whether or not the duo have been romantically concerned.
The girl is assumed to have made at the very least a partial confession. She reportedly acknowledged throughout police questioning that she “dedicated the crime to repay her money owed.”
The police spokesperson mentioned the investigation was nonetheless ongoing and that the case had not but been handed on to the prosecution service.
In December final 12 months, a South Korean courtroom sentenced a financial institution worker who stole cash from his employer to purchase crypto to fifteen years in jail.
The USA, Japan and South Korea launched a joint assertion, detailing North Korea-linked crypto thefts and their focused entities.#NorthKorea #CryptoThefts #LazarusGrouphttps://t.co/uTkzpYvnTe
— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 15, 2025
The month prior, a department of the South Korean excessive courtroom jailed a “theme park” crypto scammer for 12 years.
The fraudster advised his buyers he had a allow to construct a multimillion-dollar park close to the Demilitarized Zone and the border with North Korea.
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