Second-Stage Scam Methods and Precautions for Victims of 2021 Fake Stock Investment Fraud

Following a recent notification of a prosecutor's decision to 'request supplementary investigation' regarding a victim who lost 100 million won in a 2021 fake stock investment scam, a secondary financial scam exploiting this situation is rampant. Scam rings have obtained lists of victims presumed leaked during the investigation process and approach victims, promising to return their lost 100 million won. This is known as 'refund voice phishing.' According to the Financial Supervisory Service and the National Police Agency, damages from secondary scams reported in the past year range from tens of millions to over 500 million won per case. Criminals are executing sophisticated secondary crimes, siphoning off victims' funds by using government support grants or the return of seized property as bait.

Misunderstanding Investigation Procedures and the Danger of Leaked Information

The Reality of Prosecutorial Referral and Supplementary Investigation Requests

When the police finish investigating a case and hand it over to the prosecution, the prosecution reviews the case files to decide on indictment. If evidence is deemed insufficient or the investigation inadequate, the case is sent back to the police with an order for "further investigation"; this is called a supplementary investigation request. The fact that a supplementary investigation request was issued a month after the victim received a text message stating the perpetrator was caught in Jeju and sent to the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office on March 8 signifies that legal proceedings are underway.

Targeted Victim Lists

The reason scammers can accurately identify victims of the 2021 investment scam is that they use personal information leaked during past financial crimes. Criminal organizations possess detailed information, including past investment amounts, names, and contact details, as well as recent investigation progress such as prosecutorial referrals or supplementary investigations. This information asymmetry is a key factor that leads victims to mistake the caller for a genuine investigative agency.

The Sophisticated Structure of Secondary Scams Baited with Refunds

How Cryptocurrency Money Laundering Fees Work

The caller, posing as an investigator or public official, reassures the victim that the 100 million won has been secured before setting the actual trap. They coerce the victim into opening a cryptocurrency wallet under the pretext of preventing money laundering or releasing a freeze. The scam ring claims that government funds are available but require a legalization process because the money is linked to crime, demanding a fee of 10% to 20% of the refund amount. The moment the victim deposits this fee, the funds are completely laundered and disappear.

The Truth and Falsehood of Seized Property Refund Procedures

Actual court refunds or refunds of seized property by the prosecution take place only after the case is closed. Official personnel, such as court clerks, send official documents by mail, and the refund is made by direct deposit into the bank account registered in the victim's name. Under no circumstances do official agencies instruct victims to purchase virtual currency over a single phone call or demand advance fees.

Psychological Pressure and Exploiting Fake Returns

The Temptation of Leverage Laundering

Going beyond a simple promise to return money, the scam ring uses obscure terms like 'public project interest rates' to pose as financial experts. They lure victims by promising to return three to five times the original principal using 'leverage' and direct them to log in to a fake virtual asset exchange site. When the victim logs in, they show graphics with skyrocketing balances to provide a sense of psychological security. The balance figures are merely a carefully manipulated illusion; withdrawals are completely blocked.

Impersonation of Public Officials and Blocking

Criminals who impersonate cyber investigation unit detectives or prosecutors from security offices create a sense of urgency for the victim. A typical method involves demanding a private money transfer, claiming they will bribe a judge to expedite the refund. Investigative agencies do not even use messengers like KakaoTalk or Telegram for official business communication. If a contact arrives via a personal channel demanding money or urging app installation, one should immediately assume it is a secondary crime and block the sender.

Practical Response Guide to Prevent Damage

Verifying Facts by Checking Case Numbers

The only way to know if money can truly be recovered is to verify directly with the official investigative agency. If you receive a suspicious contact, you must demand the exact case number and responsible department from the caller. Subsequently, you should call the Prosecution Service's civil complaints center at 1301 or the local police station directly—not a number found via smartphone or internet search—to confirm the existence of the case number. Calling the FSS Smishing Report Center at 1332 to ask about voice phishing is also an effective method.

Essential Rules of Conduct for Past Investment Scam Victims

If a contact arrives promising a refund, you must hang up immediately without providing any answer. You must never enter login passwords or bank account passwords requested by the other party. If you have already sent money or shared account information, you must immediately contact your main bank to request a payment suspension. Remember that fees or tax payments for money laundering prevention do not exist in government policy, and reporting to 112 immediately is the best choice to prevent damage.