Prosperous Golfers Fall Victim to Organized Casino Scam Worth $850,000
In August 2025, South Korean authorities arrested 12 members of a criminal group, including the ringleader known as “Mr. A,” for their involvement in a sophisticated "setup crime" extortion scheme. The group targeted wealthy golf enthusiasts, luring them on overseas golf trips to Thailand and Cambodia, where victims were framed with false accusations or cheated through rigged casino games to extort large sums of money.
The Modus Operandi of the "Setup Crimes"
The gang would befriend wealthy individuals, often meeting them at domestic golf events or driving ranges. They would invite victims on golf trips abroad, under false pretenses such as winning a prize (e.g., free tickets after a hole-in-one). Once abroad, victims were manipulated into compromising situations. For instance, one victim was coerced into sexual acts with a prostitute later falsely alleged to be a minor. Alternatively, victims were encouraged to gamble at rigged casinos designed to ensure heavy losses. The gang then threatened victims with fabricated legal charges (e.g., underage sex accusations) or fraudulently claimed their casino losses implied criminal activity. Under the threat of legal repercussions, victims were extorted to pay large sums, sometimes several hundred million won (~hundreds of thousands of USD).
Current Status of the Investigation
Authorities arrested 12 suspects, including the mastermind Mr. A, aged 60, and charged them with extortion and blackmail. The investigation uncovered collaboration with insiders at casinos and the use of GPS tracking to monitor victims. One key suspect who managed overseas operations remains at large; his passport has been revoked, and an Interpol Red Notice has been filed.
Police urge victims not to comply with extortion demands, stressing that fear of legal consequences is a tactic of the criminals, and to report such crimes immediately. The case has been forwarded to prosecution as of June 2025, with at least one prior conviction issued in the lower court.
This case serves as a reminder of the methodical use of "setup crimes," where innocent victims are framed and coerced, often leading to underreporting due to fear. Authorities continue to crack down on illegal gambling and organized extortion rings in South Korea.
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- Following the arrest of 12 suspects in a golf scam extortion scheme in South Korea, there's growing concern about casino fraud and its connection to gambling trends, as authorities are finding insiders at casinos colluding with the criminal groups.
- The General News has reported a surge in crime-and-justice cases related to casino-and-gambling activities, with victims often being targeted through setup crimes, which involve framing them with false accusations or manipulating them into compromising situations.
- Interpol has issued a Red Notice for the key suspect still at large in the South Korean casino fraud case, as authorities worldwide are keeping a watchful eye on international organized crime rings that thrive on extortion and blackmail.
- The ongoing investigation into the sophisticated golf scam extortion scheme has shed light on how these criminal groups are leveraging gambling trends to exploit the wealthy, with rigged casino games being a prime method for extorting large sums of money.
- As the case progresses through the court system, there is a renewed focus on educating the public about these setup crimes and the importance of reporting such crimes promptly, rather than succumbing to the extortionists' tactics of fear and exploitation.
