Scams targeting foreigners rise nearly 4-fold over 2 yrs: lawmaker (opens original article in a new tab)

Scams targeting foreigners in South Korea have risen nearly fourfold over two years, with many cases involving K-pop fans and a significant increase in crime against foreign residents.

• The number of foreign victims of fraud in South Korea increased from 5,307 in 2023 to 19,907 in 2024
• Scams targeting K-pop fans involved offering merchandise related to K-pop stars before disappearing after receiving money
• Foreigners' crime victim count rose 81.7% over two years, with 50,975 victims in 2024