SBS's 'Curious Stories Y' is on the trail of a no-show scam that has been making small business owners cry.
On the upcoming episode of 'Curious Stories Y', the show will delve into recent cases where individuals impersonating entertainment agencies and broadcasters have committed no-show scams.
Mr. Park, who runs a karaoke bar in Ingye-dong, Suwon, recently received a call that seemed like good news. The man on the other end, introducing himself as 'SBS's Producer Lee', expressed his desire to book the venue for a 'Running Man' team dinner. He even ordered bottles of premium liquor costing over 1.3 million won each, citing special requests from celebrities. However, when the reservation time came and went, neither the man nor any celebrities showed up.
Like a mirage, the man reappeared only two days later, this time calling another karaoke bar to make similar promises and then vanishing after ordering expensive liquor. What could be the identity of this mysterious figure?
Upon investigation, 'Curious Stories Y' discovered that the real 'SBS Producer Lee' is actually a woman. The voice of the impersonator, who had been using the real producer's name to commit fraud, was heard again in restaurants nationwide.
False calls claiming "Actor Hwang Jung-min will visit today" or "Nam Jin will have a dinner party after his concert" continued. This time, a man claiming to be the manager of a famous celebrity made similar requests. However, there was something suspicious about his behavior. After making a reservation, he would insist on ordering hard-to-find premium liquor and then disappear after recommending a liquor distributor only he knew.
Owners who transferred money to the liquor distributor introduced by the man ended up not only without the liquor but also bearing the brunt of the no-show. Moreover, as the investigation continued, there was a surge in calls from people claiming to have been contacted by the man. The identity of this man, who appears across the country, remains a mystery.
A whistleblower who met with the 'Curious Stories Y' production team claimed to know the identity of the man. "I used to do the same thing. It's the same modus operandi. It's a new type of voice phishing," they said, clarifying that it was not just impersonation or no-shows but 'voice phishing'. They also mentioned that the operation is based in Cambodia and is currently recruiting people.
The production team immediately contacted the organization and even managed to obtain the scripts they use in secret. Will they be able to uncover the identity of the voice that has been causing so much distress to business owners? The story will be revealed on 'Curious Stories Y', airing Friday night at 8:50 PM.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)