Job Postings Used as Bait to Sell Foreign Used Cars, No Jobs Offered...'Caught Red-Handed'

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Two companies that used job opportunities as bait to sell used foreign vehicles and cargo trucks have been caught by Gyeonggi Province enforcement authorities.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 21st that it recently identified two fraudulent transaction companies that lured job seekers through employment websites and part-time job sites by claiming they could earn 5 to 8 million won per month, then actually sold high-priced vehicles or received money illegally. The province said it plans to take administrative action against these companies.

The crackdown came at the directive of Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. On the 30th of last month, the governor posted on social media that "a report was received asking to catch these scammers alongside an article about luring vehicle purchases by advertising high-income work opportunities," and requested the Fair Economy Division to verify the details. Accordingly, the province investigated the reported sites and similar businesses to confirm whether illegal activities were taking place.

As a result, P Company located in Uijeongbu induced customers to purchase foreign vehicles worth over 50 million won as initial investment costs to provide concierge services, but in reality there was almost no actual concierge work available. Additionally, no contract specified the conditions for providing profits from performing concierge services.

D Company in Gunpo was found soliciting the sale of refrigerated cargo trucks for delivering ice to hospitals or charging approximately 10 million won in education and registration fees for performing cleaning and disinfection work. However, no specific conditions were stipulated in the contract, only stating that profits or guarantees resulting from these activities would be determined by separate subcontracting companies.

Gyeonggi Province determined that such vehicle sales and fees fall under business solicitation transactions under the Door-to-Door Sales Act. The province plans to impose administrative penalties including fines on the companies identified and proceed with criminal proceedings through close cooperation with investigative authorities.

The current Door-to-Door Sales Act defines business solicitation transactions as those in which sales targets are lured through methods of arranging or providing income opportunities to receive money or purchase goods. In business solicitation transactions, inducing transaction partners through false or exaggerated statements or deceptive methods is strictly prohibited. When entering into a contract, the conditions regarding the benefits to be obtained or guarantees thereof must be explained and a contract document must be provided. Violations result in imprisonment of up to two years or fines of up to 50 million won, or administrative fines of up to 5 million won.

Gyeonggi Province plans to continue monitoring employment and part-time job sites to root out vehicle sales fraud schemes using job opportunities as bait.

Kim Ji-ye, head of the Fair Economy Division of Gyeonggi Province, said "We will continue conducting undercover investigations posing as job seekers, and will impose the strongest possible sanctions when fraudulent sales sites are identified." She added, "For job postings requiring initial fees, job seekers must carefully verify the benefits and guarantee conditions to be obtained, as well as the party responsible for providing such benefits when signing contracts."