If you sent money to an investment chat room,
first identify the account that received it

How people get drawn into a "leading room"

The bait is usually free. An account imitating a well-known finance YouTuber or a securities firm employee invites you to join a "free stock recommendation room." Screenshots proving profits keep appearing in the group chat, but many of the people in the conversation are shills placed by the organization to set the mood.

Once some trust has formed, they have you download an exchange or app they created. The balance in the app grows every day, and small amounts can actually be withdrawn. That experience leads you to put in larger sums.

Their true face appears the moment you try to withdraw a large amount. They demand more deposits for taxes, fees, a security deposit, or an account upgrade, and even after you pay, withdrawals do not open. Most people who come to us are at this point.

Why payment suspension is blocked in investment-based scams

In voice phishing, simply applying to the bank for damage relief freezes the other account and opens the refund process. Investment scams are different, because the proviso to Article 2(2) of the same special act excludes acts disguised as the provision of goods or services from the definition.

Banks sometimes treat investment consulting or use of an exchange as a "disguised transaction" under this proviso and refuse payment suspension, or lift a suspension already in place after the fact. If you hear that a suspension has been lifted, you must file for provisional attachment with the court before the balance is withdrawn.

The recovery process DAEON Law Firm pursues

1. Identify the receiving account holderWe first review the transfer records, investigation records and financial institutions' replies, and after filing the complaint we also use the court's fact inquiry to confirm who the account holder is and where they live.
2. Apply for provisional attachmentWithout waiting for judgment, we freeze deposits, real estate and wage claims. How much you can eventually recover is in practice decided at this stage.
3. Damages lawsuitWe argue joint tort liability under Article 760 of the Civil Act on the ground that handing over a bank account assisted the fraud. As a fallback, we also claim return of unjust enrichment in the alternative.
4. Criminal complaint and compensation orderWe also file a criminal complaint. If the account holder is brought to trial, a path opens to seek a compensation order in that criminal trial.
5. Compulsory executionAfter obtaining judgment, we move on to actually collecting the money through seizure and collection orders and asset disclosure and asset inquiry.

Materials it helps to gather before a consultation

• The entire stock-tip room or group chat conversation (an exported file is better than screenshots)
• The addresses of the fake app and site, the app name, and the screens from when you signed up
• A transfer confirmation for each account used (bank, account number, account holder, amount, date and time)
• The other party's nickname, contact details, and Telegram ID
• If you reported to the police, a certificate of incident report or the report number

It is fine if some materials are missing. Some steps can be started with just the account number and the time of the transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Written on the basis of Korean statutes in force (National Law Information Center, Ministry of Government Legislation) and court precedents as of October 20, 2026. Results may differ with amendments to the law or the facts of each case. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Written and reviewed by Attorney Dongwoo Shin — Ph.D. in Law; certified criminal law specialist and certified divorce law specialist registered with the Korean Bar Association. He handles each case personally from consultation to judgment. About the attorney →
Last updated October 20, 2026