South Korean authorities have apprehended a notorious crypto scammer who went to extreme lengths to evade capture, including undergoing plastic surgery.
The suspect, whose name remains undisclosed, masterminded a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme that defrauded over 16 billion won (approximately $15.6 million) from 158 investors.
According to local reports, this scammer operated between November 2021 and June 2022, luring victims with the promise of an 18% monthly return on investments in a fictitious crypto-mining business.
Despite his elaborate efforts to escape justice, the 40-year-old fugitive was finally arrested in August 2024, after evading authorities for nearly a year. His arrest marked the end of an intensive 10-month manhunt that began when he failed to appear at a pre-trial detention hearing in September 2023. In response, the court issued an arrest warrant, and the police launched a full-scale investigation to track him down.
In a desperate bid to remain undetected, the scammer underwent plastic surgery costing around 21 million won (about $16,000). The procedures, which altered his eyes, nose, and facial contours, were aimed at disguising his appearance. Additionally, he resorted to wearing wigs to further mask his identity.
However, the suspect’s elaborate attempts to avoid capture were ultimately in vain. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency employed a combination of surveillance footage, phone records, and his internet search history to confirm his identity and locate his hideout. He was apprehended in an apartment in Guri, Gyeonggi Province.
This arrest is one of several recent high-profile cases involving cryptocurrency-related crimes in South Korea. Just yesterday, Hugo Hyungsoo Lee, CEO of Haru Invest, was stabbed in the neck during his trial for allegedly defrauding investors of over $800 million.
