South Korean man to be deported for phone fraud

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is preparing the deportation of a South Korean fugitive suspected to be part of a syndicate operating a telephone fraud scheme in Manila preying on the people in his country.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said Hang Seun Hun, 27, was arrested by the immigration’s fugitive search last Sept. 20 along Adriatico Street in Malate, Manila.

Morente said Hang and three other Korean fugitives had been on the BI’s wanted list since Aug. 8 when immigration violation charges were filed against them for being fugitives from justice and undesirable aliens.

Hang, who is currently detained at the BI jail in Bicutan, Taguig City, and his three other companions are subjects of an outstanding arrest warrant that a Korean court issued on Aug. 22.

Immigration records showed that Hang was an overstaying alien who arrived on Jan. 30 and did not bother to extend his 30-day permit to stay.

Hang and his companions are facing a case for telephone fraud scam, also known as voice phishing.

Voice phishing refers to the criminal practice of using telephone to gain access to private personal and financial information from the victim for the purpose of financial reward.

It is done, for example, when a caller imitates a bank officer or police investigator or prosecutor in attempting to acquire information about the call recipient’s bank account information to trick the latter into giving them money.

Voice phishing is said to be a notorious practice in Korea. Many victims have fallen prey to perpetrators of the scheme, some of whom will demand money by threatening to harm the victim’s relatives or harass them with the prospect of being charged with criminal offenses.

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