As a seasoned researcher with extensive experience in unraveling intricate webs of financial crimes, I find the audacity and cunning of this crypto mining scam mastermind, Mr. Lee, nothing short of astounding. His elaborate attempts to evade capture, including undergoing plastic surgery, highlight not only his desperation but also his belief that money can buy even the most unattainable resources.


According to reports, the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has allegedly taken into custody 14 people linked to a large-scale cryptocurrency mining fraud estimated at approximately $12.8 million or 16 billion won.

In an effort to evade law enforcement, the leader of this operation – a man in his forties known simply as Lee – even resorted to getting cosmetic surgery.

Mastermind Had Plastic Surgery to Evade Capture

On August 30, it was reported that Lee was apprehended in Seoul following a ten-month long search by authorities.

He is accused of organizing a fraudulent virtual asset mining business that swindled 158 victims out of their investments between November 2021 and June 2022.

As reported by authorities, the alleged offender is said to have stolen approximately 4.5 billion won ($3.6 million) out of a grand total of 16 billion won that was collected from victims. To keep up the appearance of a legitimate enterprise, he built a vast network of recruiters, which included four prominent headhunters and four mid-level agents. These individuals were crucial in persuading people about the business’s supposed earnings potential.

In July 2022, the threads of a case started to come apart as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency launched an investigation, following the accumulation of 21 legal complaints and allegations made against the suspect at different police stations throughout the country.

The probe revealed the elaborate lengths to which Lee went to avoid capture, including spending 20 million won on plastic surgery to alter his appearance and evade authorities.

Suspect Apprehended After 10-Month Manhunt

In spite of his attempts, the individual suspected of a crime finally met his match when he was apprehended by the police recently. He had been evading capture since last September following his failure to show up for an important hearing related to his arrest warrant.

While on the run, it’s said that Lee received assistance from the law firm’s office manager whom he had employed. This individual is believed to have facilitated his escape by locating a plastic surgery clinic prepared to carry out the necessary procedures and offering him a phony phone to confuse investigators more effectively.

Besides his detainment, officials also captured the eight main recruiters involved in the deceptive scheme. They were transferred to the court for trial in September of the previous year and more recently.

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2024-09-01 00:50