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Alleged fairway fraudsters arrested over drugging, extortion claims

Published: 12 Mar. 2026, 14:36 Updated: 12 Mar. 2026, 19:00

A suspect is seen allegedly injecting a psychotropic drug into the coffee of a victim during a screen golf game played for money in this surveillance footage still provided by police. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN POLICE AGENCY]

A group was apprehended for allegedly rigging screen golf games played for money by secretly drugging their victim and extorting tens of millions of won.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s mobile criminal investigation unit said Thursday it had apprehended nine suspects — two of whom were detained — and sent them to prosecutors last month.

The group is accused of manipulating the outcome of screen golf bets by secretly mixing psychotropic drugs into a victim’s drink to impair concentration or using a remote control to change the direction of the screen just before a shot, causing the ball to veer off course.

The suspects face charges of fraud and violating the Narcotics Control Act. Police said the group extorted a total of 74 million won ($50,000) from one victim over 10 betting games conducted over roughly three months starting in December 2024.

The suspects targeted victims who appeared wealthy at golf clubs or hobby groups. They then approached them naturally through their shared interest in golf and developed relationships that led to bets, according to police.

The scheme typically involved three or four accomplices participating in a single game. During matches, the suspects would switch the victim’s drink with one containing the psychotropic drug lorazepam when the victim briefly looked away, or secretly inject powdered drugs into bottled coffee.

A remote control allegedly used to change the direction of the screen while the victim briefly turned their head to swing during a screen golf game played for money, in this surveillance footage still provided by police [SEOUL METROPOLITAN POLICE AGENCY]

Police said the lorazepam used in the crimes had been prescribed to the suspects for conditions such as insomnia. When taken by someone without a medical need, the drug can cause drowsiness and lethargy.

The suspects also used a prepared remote control and a USB-type receiver to move the direction of the screen left or right just as the victim turned their head back to swing, causing the ball to go off target.

Because betting games often prompt players to try to recover their losses, the victim continued playing despite the repeated damage, police said.

Investigators secured videos recorded by the victim and messages exchanged with the suspects. They also confirmed that the victim tested positive for the same psychotropic drug prescribed to the suspects.

The two suspects who were detained were found to have previously been punished for similar crimes.

Police warned that the case posed serious risks because psychotropic drugs were used as tools of the crime, directly threatening the victim’s health and safety.

“Excessive bets disguised as friendly social activities can become targets for crime,” police said, urging people to remain vigilant.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY LEE AH-MI [[email protected]]