Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested four South Koreans wanted by their government for allegedly engaging in internet fraud operations that have victimized many of their compatriots.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the Koreans were arrested Monday in their workplaces at the BF Homes, Parañaque City by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit.
They were identified as Ryu Sunggon, 43; Park Kyeol, 29; Kim Myung Ryun, 27; and Song Jungrak, 26.
Morente said the Koreans, whose passports have been canceled, will be deported for being undocumented aliens and for posing risk to public safety and security due to their being fugitives from justice.
He added that the aliens have been issued arrest warrants by a court in Korea where they have been charged with fraud and voice phishing.
Voice phishing refers to the criminal practice of using social engineering over the telephone system to gain access to private personal and financial information from the public for the purpose of financial reward.
It was learned that those arrested were among seven Koreans suspected of operating the syndicate and whose arrest was sought by the South Korean embassy in Manila.
Embassy officials said the syndicate has victimized hundreds of unsuspecting Koreans here who lost money after being duped to reveal their private information to callers impersonating legitimate companies.
Lawyer Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI spokesperson, said the three Korean suspects who remain at large are subjects of a continuing manhunt by BI operatives. (Jun Ramirez)