Fraudster Disappears After Extorting Money Through Fake Ad Casting Messages

A scam involving the impersonation of a well-known clothing brand to extort money has occurred in Jeju, prompting calls for caution.

A, a resident of Jeju City, recently suffered financial losses while attempting to apply for what appeared to be a recruitment advertisement impersonating Patagonia Korea.

A sent a advance payment of 300,000 won following text message instructions from the imposter, which stated, "You need to prepare your own outfits, and because some supporting cast members do not show up on the day of the shoot, you must deposit a security brand."

Believing the detailed instructions regarding the shoot concept, date, time, location, and the need for security due to a celebrity appearance, A transferred the money. However, the imposter subsequently cut off contact, and the fake recruitment advertisement has now been deleted.

A stated, "A number of applicants had posted comments expressing their intention to apply. There are likely more victims," and plans to file a complaint against the imposter with the police on charges of fraud.

Particular caution is required as similar fraud damages could occur nationwide, riding on the trusted image of the brand.

Patagonia Korea stated through a notice on its official website on October 27, "This recruitment is unrelated to Patagonia, and the company never requests monetary deposits as a condition for participating in advertising shoots," adding, "We ask for your special attention to prevent damages from similar cases."

(Photo: Capture of Patagonia Korea website, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.