Pampanga, Philippines – A 44-year-old Korean national wanted for a large-scale fraud scheme in South Korea has been arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga, ending months of coordinated tracking by Philippine and international law enforcement.
According to a statement from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the fugitive, identified only as “Park,” was apprehended on June 28, 2026, at around 11:35 PM in Barangay Balibago. The operation was carried out under BI Mission Order No. 2026-228.
A Joint Effort Across Borders
The arrest brought together several agencies working side by side:
- CIDG National Capital Regional Field Unit
- Bureau of Immigration – Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU)
- Korean National Police Agency (KNPA)
- Department of Justice – Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OCC)
- Police Regional Office 3 (PRO 3)
Park was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice published on May 7, 2026. That notice was tied to an arrest warrant issued by the Busan District Court in South Korea for fraud, specifically violations of Article 15-1 of the Special Act on the Prevention of Loss Caused by Telecommunications-Based Financial Fraud and Refund for Loss.
The “No-Show” Scam Explained
Authorities say Park and several accomplices ran what is known in South Korea as a “no-show and proxy purchase” scam. The scheme targets small business owners, especially restaurants, caterers, and suppliers.
Here’s how it reportedly worked:
- Scammers posed as government officials, corporate executives, or businessmen
- They placed large fake orders with unsuspecting businesses
- Victims were tricked into buying goods or wiring money to fake vendors, with promises of reimbursement that never came
In Park’s case, he allegedly lured seven victims into making 24 separate purchases on his behalf. The total losses reached roughly KRW 170 million.
An Overstaying Alien
Records from the Bureau of Immigration show Park entered the Philippines on December 12, 2025, under temporary visitor status. He is now considered an overstaying alien and was flagged under Watchlist Order No. 2026-563, dated May 15, 2026, for being an undesirable foreigner and a fugitive from justice.
Officials Praise the Operation
CIDG Director PMGEN Robert AA Morico II commended PCOL John K Guiagui, Regional Chief of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit, along with the joint agencies involved.
The CIDG said the arrest strengthens cooperation between the Philippines and South Korea, and pushes the case closer to justice for the victims. It also reaffirmed its commitment to hunting down fugitives, whether local or foreign.