1.9 Billion Won Scammed: The Truth Behind "It's So Delicious"

An advertising agency operator and others have been caught by police for accepting money in exchange for posting fake reviews on online platforms (portals).

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency's Cyber Crime Investigation Division announced today (July 20) that it has referred 24 individuals to the prosecution, including the operator of an advertising agency, identified as A, who was arrested and referred on charges of violating the Information and Communications Network Act, obstruction of business under the Criminal Act, and violating the Framework Act on Telecommunications. The other 23 individuals, including other operators and advertisers, were referred without detention.

A and the others are accused of posting 28,886 fake reviews for 707 businesses nationwide, including hospitals, restaurants, and cafes, using stolen accounts on online platforms between October 30, 2020, and January 20, 2026, and collecting 1.9 billion won from advertisers.

Police investigations revealed that they purchased large quantities of accounts on Telegram and used them to post fake reviews online, thereby boosting the search ranking of the advertisers' businesses.

A and the others mobilized employees of implementing companies or recruited reviewers through job search websites, paying 700 won per receipt review and 800 won per visit review to have them post the fake content.

Advertisers provided them with payment receipts left behind by customers and photos of their businesses to request the reviews.

In the case of lodging establishments, the advertiser would lower the price of a one-night stay to 1,000 won, and the reviewer would make the payment before writing a fake review.

One of these individuals even wrote approximately 3,600 fake reviews in a single month.

It was also discovered that a software company participated in this criminal activity.

They created and provided the advertising agency with IP-spoofing programs that bypassed portal security systems, as well as various macro programs used to facilitate the crimes.

It was found that after the fake reviews were posted, the search rankings of the advertisers' businesses on online platforms rose, and their sales increased as well.

Among the 24 people referred, the police have also taken pre-indictment preservation measures for 1.785 billion won in criminal proceeds against the representative of one advertising agency.

A police official stated, "Organized review manipulation is a serious crime that deprives the majority of honest self-employed business owners of opportunities and deceives consumers," adding, "We are continuing to investigate other advertisers who have not yet been referred."

(Photo: Provided by Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.