Prosperous Golfers Implicated in $850,000 Manipulated Casino Scam
In August 2025, South Korean authorities made a significant breakthrough in dismantling a criminal group that targeted affluent individuals through a complex extortion scheme involving rigged casino games and false criminal accusations. The group, led by a 60-year-old man known as "Mr. A", was responsible for losses totaling approximately $850,000 from six victims and additional amounts in gambling debts from other cases.
The scheme began with invitations to luxury golf trips abroad, luring victims to Thailand and Cambodia. Once there, victims were coerced into gambling at rigged casinos, operated in collusion with local casino personnel. The group also employed threatening tactics, such as fabricating criminal involvement, including alleged sexual acts with minors, to extort large sums of money.
To monitor and control victims, GPS tracking devices were installed on their cars. The group's roles included recruiters, shills, a ringleader, and coordination of overseas operations, with one suspect, a South Korean citizen, remaining at large and an Interpol Red Notice issued for extradition.
The ringleader, Mr. A, was among those arrested along with 11 other members of the group. The crimes committed by Mr. A's organization are considered 'setup crimes', where innocent people are made to appear as criminals to extort money.
The victims suffered financially, losing close to $1.54 million in combined gambling debts and extortion payments. Their reluctance to report was heightened by fear of legal repercussions due to false framing as criminals. The criminal activities exploited the illegal gambling sector and undermined confidence in overseas gambling safety and travel experiences for affluent South Koreans.
Authorities warn that extortion involving threats of criminal prosecution constitutes a crime itself and encourage victims to immediately report any such incidents to police rather than comply with demands. The South Korean government is increasing pressure on illegal gambling operations and associated financial facilitators, exemplified by recent investigations into payment firms aiding illicit gambling transactions.
Enhanced monitoring of casino insiders and overseas gambling activities to detect rigged gambling and extortion schemes is also being implemented. Public awareness campaigns to educate potential high-risk groups about common extortion tactics involving travel and gambling scams could reduce victimization.
This case illustrates the sophisticated methods used by criminal organizations exploiting international casino environments combined with digital tracking and legal intimidation to extort wealthy victims. It underscores the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts and victim support frameworks in combating such criminal activities.
[1] South Korean Authorities Arrest 12 Members of Criminal Group (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.korea.net/news/news_article.jsp?newsId=256815
[2] Criminal Group Orchestrates Extortion Scheme in International Casinos (2025, August 11). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-62795837
[3] South Korean Extortion Scheme Involving Rigged Casino Games (2025, August 12). Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/12/asia/south-korea-extortion-casino-games-intl/index.html
[4] Extortion Ring Targeting Wealthy South Koreans Discovered (2025, August 13). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korean-extortion-ring-targeting-wealthy-south-koreans-discovered-2025-08-13/
- The August 2025 arrest of 12 members from a South Korean crime group uncovered a complex extortion scheme involving golf scams, casino fraud, and rigged casino games, as reported by multiple general news outlets.
- The golf scam targeted affluent individuals, leading to losses totaling approximately $850,000 from six victims and additional amounts in gambling debts from other cases.
- Interpol issued a Red Notice for one suspect, a South Korean citizen, still at large in connection with this casino scam.
- Casino culture and gambling trends were undermined by this crime, causing a loss of confidence in the safety of overseas gambling experiences for South Koreans.
- The authorities warn that any incidents of extortion involving threats of criminal prosecution must be reported immediately to the police instead of complying with demands, citing crime-and-justice consequences.
- The South Korean government is cracking down on illegal gambling operations and associated financial facilitators, with emphasis on monitoring casino insiders and overseas gambling activities to combat rigged gambling and extortion schemes. Education campaigns to protect potential high-risk groups against travel and gambling scams are also being employed to reduce victimization.
