A recent attempted romance scam almost resulted in a 70-year-old woman's loss of 10 million KRW (approximately $8,500). On January 20, she visited a bank branch in Iksan, Jeonbuk, and requested the transfer of 5 million KRW to a specific account, indicating urgency in her request. The bank employee became suspicious of her transaction when she handed over her phone to provide details, leading the employee to contact the police.

The police arrived within five minutes, reviewed the chat logs on the woman’s phone, and quickly identified the characteristic patterns of a romance scam. In this case, the scammer had gained the woman's trust over several days, manipulating her emotions by sending messages about investment opportunities that promised significant returns on supposedly valuable items. The scammer promised her that with an initial investment, she could see a huge profit, encouraging her to send additional funds.

Despite the police explaining the situation, the woman initially resisted their intervention, claiming the transfer was for living expenses. Through further dialogue, she revealed her emotional attachment to the scammer, referring to them as her 'boyfriend' and expressing frustration over delays in sending money. The incident highlights the vulnerabilities of individuals, particularly the elderly, to fraud and the importance of vigilance in financial transactions.