Nationwide Military Personnel Impersonation 'No-Show' Scam on the Rise

Across the country, there has been a surge in 'no-show' scams where individuals impersonate military personnel and place large orders before failing to show up, causing significant damage to small business owners.

According to reports from Uljin County, Gyeongbuk, on the 21st, a man claiming to be an officer from a certain military unit ordered a total of 120 chicken pieces (80 from one chicken shop and 40 from another) in the area but did not show up at the agreed time.

Another restaurant owner in the same region reported that a man who claimed to be a military officer ordered meals for 40 people but vanished without communication. This was also a case of 'no-show scam.'

As a result, the restaurant owners have suffered considerable losses due to these 'no-show' incidents.

The impersonation scams involving military personnel are ongoing.

On the 4th, in Jeju, a man impersonating a Marine Corps officer ordered four tents worth approximately 500,000 KRW each from a tent supplier, claiming they were for military use.

This man even sent a payment confirmation letter under the name of the '2nd Division Marine Corps Logistics Command Brigade Commander' to gain the owner's trust. However, he ultimately failed to appear and lost contact.

The Marine Corps stated that there was no order for tents, and the person mentioned in the document does not actually exist.

Earlier in March, a bakery in Jeju also fell victim to a person impersonating a military officer who ordered 100 green tea cream buns but did not show up.

What’s even more shocking is that when the owner sent a message, the perpetrator mockingly replied, "I’m sorry. Please donate the (made buns) to a local orphanage and do something good," adding insult to injury for the victim.

No-Show Scam Victims Reach 315 Cases from Last Year to Early March This Year

On the 4th, the 1st Marine Corps Division urged local merchants near the base to be cautious about 'no-show scams' through a safety message.

A Marine Corps official stated, "The person claiming to be a military officer seems to be creating fake documents to place orders. These false documents indicate that he is an officer serving in the 2nd Marine Corps Division," and emphasized that face-to-face orders should be mandatory for large orders.

According to a KBS report, from last year to early March this year, there have been a total of 315 instances of such no-show scams nationwide, with estimated damages amounting to 3.4 billion KRW. This indicates a scale that can be viewed as organized fraudulent activity rather than mere pranks.

Experts advise that to prevent such scams, businesses should require upfront payments for large orders and thoroughly verify the identity of the orderers.

In particular, when impersonators claim to represent military bases or institutions, it is vital to directly contact the institution to confirm the order.

Meanwhile, the police emphasize that these no-show scams are not simple pranks but clear criminal acts, urging individuals to report similar cases immediately.

Under current laws, such actions can be punished as obstruction of business through deception, and depending on the scale of damage, fraud charges may also be applicable.

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