[앵커]
The government is putting pressure on criminals in all directions, saying they will get rid of charter scams. Today, we published the results of a special inspection on realtors suspected of participating in charter scams. More than 100 offenses were found in the metropolitan area alone. Related Content Let’s take a closer look with reporter Lee Jun-gyu, who is in and out of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Reporter, welcome.
[기자]
Hello.
[앵커]
First of all, let’s look at the background of today’s government announcement. How did this investigation come about?
[기자]
Michuhol-gu in Incheon, Gangseo-gu in Seoul, and Dongtan in Gyeonggi-do are representative areas known to have many victims of charter fraud. Before the national unit survey, a survey was carried out on the metropolitan area first. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport formed an investigation team of 150 people together with Seoul City, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon City, and the Korea Realtor Association, and the investigation period was 82 days from February 27th to May 19th. Would it not be possible to investigate all licensed real estate agents operating in the metropolitan area? That is why it is called the Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG). HUG caused a warranty accident related to the return of the jeonse deposit.
[앵커]
Simply put, if you do it once, you may have done it without knowing it, but if you worked hand in hand with the charter fraudster more than once, are you not a conspirator or an accomplice? Something like this.
[기자]
you’re right. It appears that there are 242 such realtors in the metropolitan area, and upon investigation, it was found that 99 of them had committed 108 crimes.
[앵커]
There are nearly 100 real estate agents in the metropolitan area who participated in or assisted in charter scams.
[기자]
Yes. Of the 108 cases, 53 cases, almost half of which were deemed serious, were referred to the police for investigation. Of these, 41 cases were the most reported type of unregistered brokerage. Even if you have obtained a license as a certified real estate agent, you must register to open a brokerage office to start a real estate brokerage business. It refers to the act of mediating without such registration for fear of being caught if registration is made. Many such actions were caught, such as helping a charter scam as a ghost by brokering without registering as a brokerage, or brokering without registration, and then denying the fact that the broker himself said, “I have never written a contract.” Among the types of requests for investigation, the next highest number of cases was the act of deceiving the victims asking for a rental house with lies and inducing them to rent and live in a fraudulent chartered house, or confusing them as if they were real estate . agent with a similar name when not a real estate agent, and triggers a contract, respectively 5 cases were found.
[앵커]
In order to find a good property, I deliberately paid money and went to a real estate agent, but instead, because of lying or similar actions, I was stabbed in the foot by what I believed to be an axe.
[기자]
That’s okay. In Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, it was confirmed that charter scammers contact these realtors and offer kickbacks such as ‘If you sign a contract, you will pay compensation at the level of 0.2% of the deposit per case’. The real estate agent, shaken by this money, hired them as temporary media assistants, and it turned out that they made money by signing 34 contracts in 6 months using a new villa far from the office.
[앵커]
You made money by voting more than once a week.
[기자]
yes In Michuhol-gu, Incheon, a real estate agent claimed it was unfair, saying he only signed the contract in ghostwriting. First of all, it was wrong enough just to lend someone’s name to the brokerage company, and it turned out that there were two other cases like the one that was caught, so the request for an investigation was also decided.
[앵커]
If the real estate agent stamps and signs the document, it must be considered that he has already participated in the crime. Furthermore, I don’t understand why they say they feel unfair after doing that for 3 cases. Apart from the inquiry request, what are the other types?
[기자]
There was a broker who lent me a certified broker registration certificate. In this case, it was decided to cancel registration. Administrative measures include suspending business and imposing fines. Among them, the action that received the highest level of suspension for 6 months was a case of defrauding the amount of the charter transaction or writing a double contract in 3 cases. There was one case where brokerage fees were received at a higher rate than what was stated, and apparently it was possible because there was a price. There is a possibility that a brokerage assistant has a reason for a ban, or a mass of charter fraud. Even those who employed such assistants were suspended for six months. In addition, a business suspension was imposed for 3 months on those who did not keep the contract, who did not keep the confirmation manual for the sale, or who deliberately failed to sign or seal the confirmation manual. In the case of not renewing the warranty insurance or not properly notifying the brokerage assistant, suspension of business for one month, and a fine for negligence if the explanation of the brokerage item was insufficient, that a display or advertisement was broken , or the registration of the office the certificate was not posted.
[앵커]
Now that the metropolitan area survey is over, the next step is the national level, right?
[기자]
yes The second special inspection has already started on the 22nd. It runs until 31 July. This time, the region has been expanded to the whole country, and the number of suspicious transactions has also increased significantly, and it is said that around 3,700 people are being investigated. In addition, in the metropolitan area, brokers who participated in questionable transactions more than once were targeted, but this time, it is said that the investigation will be carried out even if they only participate once. In addition, there are 2091 transactions selected by the Real Estate Consumer Protection Planning Group as appearing to be abnormal transactions.
[앵커]
When I was trying to find a rental house at a time when house prices were fluctuating, I looked for an expert with concern, but real estate agents who abused this mentality. There must be a thorough investigation and severe punishment. Reporter, thank you.
