A woman in South Korea has reportedly lost 500 million won (about $350,000) after falling victim to a romance scam involving criminals who impersonated Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae.
According to a report by JTBC, the woman — identified only as Ms. A — was contacted on social media by someone pretending to be the award-winning actor. The scammer claimed to be communicating with fans and sent her AI-generated photos of Lee, supposedly taken during the filming of Squid Game 3, along with a fake ID card to make the story seem more convincing.
Over time, the fraudster built trust and began using affectionate terms like “honey” and “darling.” They later demanded an initial payment of 6 million won, promising a chance to meet the actor. The woman continued sending money over a six-month period, with the total eventually reaching around 500 million won.
The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency has taken over the investigation and is reportedly looking into whether the crime is connected to a Cambodian syndicate involved in online scams.
Lee Jung-jae’s agency, Artist Company, confirmed the impersonation case and issued a strong statement condemning such acts.
“Neither the company nor our artists will ever ask for money, wire transfers, or sponsorships under any circumstances,” the statement read.
“If you receive any such requests, please do not respond and take extra caution to avoid falling victim to fraud.”
The agency also said it is cooperating with authorities to track down those responsible and will take strong legal action to protect both the actor and his fans.
Lee Jung-jae, who rose to international fame through Netflix’s Squid Game, has not personally commented on the case. His agency emphasized its commitment to ensuring a “safe and healthy fan culture.”
