The arrests underscore what South Korean police called a "secondary balloon effect," in which criminal organizations relocate to increasingly distant countries as crackdowns close traditional operating bases across Southeast Asia.
A government-wide task force on transnational crime said Wednesday that South Korean and Kazakh authorities raided a scam office and hideout in Almaty on July 23, arresting 14 South Korean members of the organization. Five additional members of the same network were arrested simultaneously in South Korea.
The 14 suspects detained in Kazakhstan were repatriated through Incheon International Airport between July 28 and Aug. 5.
Police believe the organization involved at least 40 members.
The alleged Chinese ringleader and several managers fled to China after learning of the investigation, authorities said. Police are seeking Interpol Red Notices for the fugitives and are working with overseas counterparts to locate additional suspects.
Investigators said the group originally operated in Cambodia before relocating to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, last year as authorities intensified crackdowns on telecom fraud. From there, the organization shifted again to Kazakhstan in March and had fully established its new base by May.
Authorities believe the group chose Kazakhstan for its relatively advanced communications infrastructure and its geographic position, which allows members to flee overland to neighboring countries, including China and Kyrgyzstan.
The organization allegedly operated a call center from a house on the outskirts of Almaty, carrying out voice-phishing schemes designed to isolate victims before persuading them to transfer their own money.
According to investigators, victims first received calls claiming court documents had been issued in their names and were instructed to access a fake judicial website.
Members posing as prosecutors then falsely claimed the victims' bank accounts had been linked to criminal activity and ordered them to relocate to hotels or other temporary lodging.
Once isolated from family and acquaintances, victims were instructed to obtain new mobile phones, install remote-access software and transfer money into accounts controlled by the criminal organization.
Police have so far identified 16 victims and confirmed losses of about 600 million won ($420,000). Authorities cautioned that those figures reflect only the cases included in arrest warrant applications and said total losses could ultimately reach several billion won as investigators identify additional victims.
The operation was coordinated by South Korea's National Police Agency, National Intelligence Service, Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry.
Police and the NIS established a joint response team after detecting the organization's relocation to Kazakhstan. South Korea's Foreign Ministry and its consulate in Almaty supported local operations and the suspects' repatriation, while the Justice Ministry handled international judicial cooperation.
Kazakhstan's National Security Committee and Interior Ministry participated in surveillance, arrests, interrogations and the suspects' return to South Korea.
A senior police official said authorities moved before the group could become firmly established in Kazakhstan and significantly expand its operations.
Investigators are now analyzing mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices seized during the raid to determine the full scale of the network, identify additional crimes and track remaining fugitives in cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies.
AJP Takeaway:
- South Korean and Kazakh authorities raided a Korean-run scam operation in Almaty on July 23, 2026, arresting 14 Korean nationals in Kazakhstan and five additional suspects in South Korea.
- The 14 suspects arrested in Kazakhstan were repatriated through Incheon International Airport between July 28 and Aug. 5; police have formally arrested 10 of them, while four others remain under questioning.
- Investigators believe the network involved at least 40 people and moved from Cambodia to Vietnam and then Kazakhstan as crackdowns on overseas fraud rings intensified across Southeast Asia.
- Police have confirmed 16 victims and losses of about 600 million won, but authorities said total damages could rise to several billion won as more cases are identified.
- The case marks what South Korean police called a “secondary balloon effect,” with scam networks relocating beyond Southeast Asia to more distant countries, while authorities now pursue the alleged Chinese leaders and analyze seized phones, laptops and other evidence.
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