A South Korean couple wanted by Interpol and South Korean authorities for large-scale fraud has been arrested, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Friday.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the couple as Choi Jeongyun and Kim Minwoo, both 41, who were arrested at their residence on Gallery Drive, Barangay Carmona, Makati City.

Viado said the arrest was effected after the bureau received a request for assistance from the South Korean government.

BI records showed the couple had overstayed their visas, arriving in the country in 2019 and never leaving.

Both Choi and Kim were the subjects of Interpol Red Notices after the Chucheon district court in South Korea issued arrest warrants for them.

According to South Korean authorities, the couple used voice phishing online to scam their victims out of over US$840,000 by posing as bankers or financial institution officials.

BI records showed the couple had overstayed their visas, arriving in the country in 2019 and never leaving.

Since 2017, Choi allegedly worked as a profit manager while Kim was employed as a manager and telemarketer for the syndicate behind the scams.

The couple is detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, awaiting deportation proceedings.

“Their names will be included in our blacklist to prevent them from re-entering the country,” Viado said.