US$13 million crypto scam fugitive caught after throwing cigarette in South Korea
The man evaded arrest for nearly five years after swindling millions from about 1,300 people
A man who had been on the run for nearly five years after orchestrating a massive cryptocurrency fraud worth 17.7 billion won (US$13.2 million) was arrested in Seoul after police noticed him littering.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on Friday that its mobile patrol unit apprehended a man in his 60s, identified only by his surname A, near Sillim Station in Gwanak district.
According to police, at around 11.30am on Wednesday, officers saw the man hastily fleeing after discarding a cigarette butt. When stopped, he pleaded, “please let me go just this once” and attempted to hail a taxi. Suspicious of his behaviour, officers demanded identification.
A refused to show his ID and repeatedly told police, “Please let me go, I will give you money.”
He also pretended to make a phone call before trying to run away from the scene. Upon further questioning, police discovered he was a wanted fugitive with arrest warrants issued on 10 charges, including fraud and assault.
Investigators said the man had defrauded about 1,300 people of 17.7 billion won through a multi-victim cryptocurrency scam between 2018 and 2019, before going into hiding in 2020.