The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Fake doctor cons woman for cash, valuables

By Yoon Min-sik

Published : Sept. 17, 2013 - 13:20

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A man suspected of pretending to be a doctor and scamming a woman into giving him money and valuables was arrested, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Tuesday.

The 31-year-old suspect surnamed Seo allegedly tricked an unnamed female victim into believing that he was a doctor who graduated from Harvard Medical School. He is believed to have received allowances and various items which totaled 50 million won ($46,000).

Seo, who is a middle school graduate with no regular job, started decorating his website in 2007 as though he was a Harvard graduate. He also made a fake business card and doctor’s gowns carrying the symbol of Harvard University.

Seo joined a club of Korean students who studied in the United States, and even worked as a medical volunteer with doctors he met at the club. In 2011, he was introduced to the victim by another club member.

The suspect and the woman grew close to one another and had vowed to visit the U.S. together. Days before departure, Seo went off the radar.

The victim grew suspicious and alerted the police, who booked Seo in cooperation with provincial police officials.

“Seo had no other job besides pretending to be a doctor,” police said, adding that investigators are looking to see if there are any other victims.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)