Korean Con Artists Steal Millions through Phony Hotel Casino Scheme
The Sting
Prosecutors in South Korea have arrested sixteen people on fraud charges, after it was alleged the group had lured wealthy businessmen to phony casinos in China. The operation, which was based in the crime films “The Sting” and Korean film, “Tazza: The High Roller”, saw the gang members conning millions of South Korean Won out of their rich “targets”.
According to prosecutors, the scam was as follows: A female member of the gang, Kim, would approach wealthy businessmen at exclusive golf clubs in South Korea. Kim would then “tail” the men and become friends. After earning their trust, Kim would then suggest they take a golfing trip to Korea, where she would introduce them to the alleged ringleader of the group, Choi.
It has been alleged that Choi set up “phony” casinos in banquet halls in hotels across China. Choi would then invite the businessmen to play baccarat in the casinos and at first, the gentlemen would win. Other players at the “casinos” were allegedly all part of Choi’s gang and would goad the businessmen on to bet more at the table. After the men had become in debt to the casino, the gang members would offer to pay the victim’s debt. The gentlemen would then transfer the money into the gang’s bank accounts once they returned home to South Korea. Prosecutors caught up with the gang after a businessman who had been tricked by Choi and Kim came forward. The gentleman, who has not been named, suggested he lost 300 million South Korean Won (£176,000) at the casino and crowd members suggested they would pay his debt for him. When the businessman returned to South Korea, he paid the 300 million Won he thought he owed into the gang’s accounts. While police in South Korea have arrested 16 members of the gang, they are still on the lookout for five others, including the alleged ringleader, Choi.
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