Korean romance scam cases rise through SNS and KakaoTalk

Korean romance scam incidents are on the rise, with at least five cases reported to the Los Angeles Consulate General since December, according to officials.

Romance scams involve fraudsters posing as attractive individuals to build trust and ultimately request money. The Los Angeles and Atlanta consulates have issued warnings, urging the public to stay cautious when approached online by unfamiliar individuals.

Scammers pose as professionals to gain trust

One recent case involved a woman in Southern California who received a friendly message on Facebook from a man claiming to be a specialized engineer working in a third country. The man sent her photos and videos daily. Eventually, he claimed his equipment had broken and asked for money to repair it. After she wired funds to multiple accounts, he disappeared.

Another victim, a man named Park, lost money in a cryptocurrency scam initiated through KakaoTalk. A woman pretending to be a friend contacted him, then apologized upon realizing he wasn’t the person she thought. She soon suggested becoming friends and sent photos and videos showing off her wealth. She claimed her fortune came from a relative and encouraged Park to invest in crypto.

Scammers use emotional manipulation

Consulate reports indicate that scammers often pose as engineers, soldiers, diplomats, businesspeople, or investors. They approach victims through KakaoTalk, social media, and text messages, sending photos and expressing interest in a serious relationship.

Once trust is established, scammers use emotional manipulation—citing emergencies like hospital bills or arrests, or offering lucrative investment opportunities—to solicit personal and financial information or request money transfers.

Kang Kyung-Han, a police officer at the consulate, explained, “Romance scams follow the same pattern: a stranger expresses interest, builds a connection, and eventually makes financial demands. One victim lost over $10,000 and never recovered the funds.” Kang emphasized that many scams are conducted by organized criminal groups based overseas, making investigations difficult. He advised people to remain skeptical of unsolicited messages and to ignore any suspicious links.

Business professionals targeted in Southeast

In the Southeast U.S., romance scams are increasingly targeting Korean professionals dispatched by companies. According to the Atlanta Consulate, scammers often exploit their loneliness to gain trust and then request financial information or money. Some even engage in explicit video chats and use the recordings to extort victims.

During a fraud prevention workshop on March 29, the Atlanta Consulate urged Korean residents to report scams to law enforcement immediately.

Embassy impersonation scams continue

Meanwhile, scams involving fake embassy officials remain active. One Korean resident in Atlanta reportedly lost $300,000 to a fraudster posing as an embassy employee.