South Korean police examine cryptocurrency-funded revenge community

• Dong-A Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Kibo Ilbo reported that the revenge company networks had been paid in cryptocurrencies.
• The group allegedly provides threats, defamation, graffiti, and vandalism for a set value.
• Gyeonggi Provincial Police are at present investigating six expenses.

South Korean police are investigating a revenge company community that allegedly accepted digital foreign money funds for harassment companies. Gyeonggi authorities have recognized a number of incidents, elevating issues that digital belongings are getting used to fund offline blackmail and focused assaults.

Police examine revenge community funded with cryptocurrencies

Native Korean media retailers comparable to Dong-A Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Kiebang Ilbo reported that clients can rent people by way of social media and pay utilizing cryptocurrencies.

Gyeonggi Provincial Police introduced three suspects in early March. That complete has now elevated to 6. These instances show how cryptocurrencies proceed to function a way of fee for felony exercise, regardless of the trade’s push for widespread legitimacy.

The report outlines a price schedule for varied intimidation techniques. The content material is claimed to have included distributing defamatory leaflets, destroying properties, and threatening others. A few of them had been solicitors to wreck property or put up defamatory messages.

Paid harassment companies supplied for cryptocurrencies

The reported value record particulars a number of types of focused harassment. For about $1,300, the attacker smears human waste on the sufferer’s entrance door. For about $325, they distributed fliers across the neighborhood accusing males of being little one intercourse offenders and ladies of being prostitutes.

Different acts embrace gluing doorways and keyholes with superglue, writing derogatory graffiti on the home, and sending threatening messages. One Korean-language X put up seen by a reporter mentioned, “We are going to take revenge in your behalf and clear your grudge,” directing potential clients to the Telegram deal with.

the police say. “We consider {that a} skilled group is behind these crimes,” a police spokesperson informed Kibo Every day. “We’re conducting a multi-faceted investigation into this matter.”

Police arrest suspect as investigation expands

One of many victims acquired a flyer in his mailbox with the message: “I cannot depart you alone.” The suspect later informed police he had acquired between $300 and $600 in extortion charges. In one other incident, police arrested a person for portray the sufferer’s entrance door pink, dumping meals scraps on the entrance, and smearing human waste on close by stairs.

Police have already detained a few of these concerned within the assault, however are persevering with to hunt for these directing the broader community. Officers additionally warn that methods have gotten extra subtle because the variety of recognized instances will increase.

The reported scheme provides one other instance to the lengthy record of crimes that use cryptocurrencies for funds. South Korean legislation enforcement authorities are at present dealing with instances the place digital belongings are tied to not hacking or fraud, however to offline blackmail and revenge carried out for rent.

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