Criminal defense for adult PC room and online gambling cases in Korea
English
한국어English中文Tiếng Việt
Call 1644-9942
Home/By stage/Account freeze / tracing
Simpyeong Law Firm · By stage

Your account was frozen or you received a notice about your financial records?

What an account freeze and a notice that your financial records were provided mean, and how online gambling investigations start from account tracing.

Written by Yu Ji-yeon, Managing Partner (former prosecutor)
Key points
  1. Most online gambling investigations start with tracing top-up accounts and follow the money up to distributors and operators.
  2. When investigators obtain your records by warrant, the bank notifies you. The notice may be delayed if the investigation requires it.
  3. A notice means the account analysis is already under way, so organize the facts before you are summoned.

Applicable laws and penalties

Electronic Financial Transactions Act Art. 49
Lending or handing over bank books, debit cards or OTP devices for a benefit
Up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine up to KRW 30 million
Criminal Act Art. 247
Opening a place or space for gambling (including online sites) for profit
Up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine up to KRW 30 million
Criminal Proceeds Concealment Act Art. 3
Disguising or concealing criminal proceeds
Up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine up to KRW 30 million

In detail

Notice of provision of financial records

Under the Real Name Financial Transactions Act, banks notify account holders when records are given to investigators. The notice states the requesting agency and purpose.

Account freeze

Accounts may be frozen following a fraud report or investigative procedure. The release process depends on the grounds, so check the reason first.

What accounts reveal

Depositors (players), commission payments (distributors), repeated transfers (cash-outs), and the link between the named holder and the real user.

What to do

Keep the notice and bank letters, organize how the account was used and its transactions, and prepare for questioning.

Frequently asked questions

Does a notice mean I will be punished?

It only tells you records were provided, but it means analysis is already under way. Organizing transactions before you are summoned makes the response much easier. If you received a notice, consult right away.

Someone else used my account. Will I be contacted?

The named holder is checked first, and depending on how it was lent, the Electronic Financial Transactions Act may apply. How you explain it is key, so consult a lawyer before giving a statement alone.

The same role can lead to different charges and outcomes depending on the facts. For your specific case, speak with a lawyer.

Related guides

By role
Applicable laws
By stage
Quick consultation
1644-9942Consult