A South Korean couple has been arrested and indicted for their involvement in a significant romance scam that defrauded victims out of approximately 10.1 billion won in Cambodia. The couple used deceptive methods and technology, including deepfake videos, to pose as investment experts and build relationships with their victims. Their operations led to the victimization of 97 individuals in South Korea over a span of time, demonstrating the increasing sophistication and scale of online scams.

The couple, identified as Kang and Ahn, reportedly utilized cosmetic surgeries to alter their appearances to evade police scrutiny while scheming against unsuspecting individuals. The Ministry of Justice announced that they were charged with organizing a criminal group and violating laws pertaining to telecommunications and financial fraud. Their fraudulent activities began in January 2024, when they joined an already established criminal organization, and later they formed their own group using a structure that mirrored legitimate corporate hierarchies.

Investigations revealed that Kang falsely presented himself as an investment expert through fabricated YouTube videos utilizing deepfake technology, while Ahn engaged in personal conversations with victims to gain their trust before soliciting investments. Prosecutors have charged a total of 38 members associated with the couple's criminal activities, highlighting a broader crackdown on organized crime targeting financial fraud. The Ministry of Justice is also working to confiscate the couple's illicit assets through various legal measures, including requesting financial institutions to freeze their deposits and pursuing international cooperation to trace and seize the proceeds of the crime in Cambodia.