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| Beware of romance scams that seek more than love. Yonhap |
By Jung Hae-myoung, Park Si-soo
A middle-aged Korean woman was swindled out of $50,000 in an online romance scam involving an alleged "Korean Army general in Iraq."
Last Wednesday, the victim attempted to wire $35,000 to her "lover," who she met on Facebook two months ago. But a bank manager stopped her after noticing something fishy with the recipient.
Police moved to investigate, but the women thwarted it, saying "it would be difficult to track the perpetrator and his identity." Officials said it is impossible to start an investigation without the woman's consent.
According to Ulsan Nambu Police station, the self-proclaimed army general approached her in June through a Facebook message, introducing himself as a "prominent solider" whose profile can be retrieved easily on the internet. They exchanged messages and the relationship deepened.
The man confessed he wanted to have a "serious relationship" with her. Then the scam began.
The soldier asked her to wire money that he said would be used to pay a "commission fee." He said if the issue was cleared, he would be able to return home.
Police warned people to decline friend requests on social media from strangers without a profile. They advised that if a stranger demands money or cash to pay taxes or immigration fees, it could be a romance scam and police should be called.
