AfreecaTV BJ Falls Victim to South Korean Crypto Scammer
AfreecaTV BJ (broadcast jockeys) stars have become the latest targets of increasingly sophisticated South Korean crypto scammers.
Asia Kyungjae reported that the Seoul Central District Court sentenced a “man in his thirties” to five years in prison for crypto-related fraud.
AfreecaTV is South Korea’s leading real-time streaming platform, and its biggest BJ stars have become celebrities in their own right.
However, scammers have begun trying to exploit the platform to lure BJ stars to participate in complex crypto fraud projects.
The court heard that the unnamed fraudster stole crypto and cash on “over 30 occasions” from a BJ star and an unnamed “businessman.”
The fraudster duped the victims by first winning their trust by donating the BJ “star balloons” worth “tens of millions of KRW.”
Afreeca launched its star balloon project in 2017. One star balloon is worth around $0.08, and South Koreans can top up balloon balances on- and offline to spend on the platform.
Streamers can also spend “balloons” at convenience stores and other outlets.
Many leading AfreecaTV BJ stars use balloons as a major source of income, with fans donating during livestreams.
The judge heard that the scammer used balloon donations to “win the favor” of his victims.
After gaining the BJ star’s trust, the fraudster then began to use the platform’s Whisper function to communicate with the streamers.
The fraudster targeted the livestreaming star after hearing them complain about a series of failed crypto and stock market investments.
The scammer, the court heard, “pretended to be a crypto investment expert.” They showed the stars a “Bitcoin wallet balance worth over 3.8 million.” The fraudster told the star:
“If you invest as I suggest, I guarantee you returns of
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