South Korean gangs offer revenge attacks for ₱18,077 ($300) in USDT
One gang member working at an outsourcing firm connected to Baedal Minjok stole over 1,000 pieces of personal data to facilitate revenge attacks. Police in Seoul arrested suspects after thugs threw food waste at a victim's door on March 30.
Key Takeaway
Criminals see USDT as untraceable payment — a dangerous misconception that's fueling revenge-for-hire services.
Gangs in South Korea are openly advertising revenge-for-hire services on Telegram and X, accepting USDT as payment.
Posts in Korean promise to carry out any form of revenge clients want. Part-time thugs earn around ₱18,077 ($300) monthly from online brokerages coordinating the attacks. Police in Gyeonggi Province are hunting the masterminds behind at least 6 crypto-powered revenge attacks this year alone.
Soonchunhyang University Police Administration Professor Oh Yoon-sung said anonymity-providing technology like crypto and encrypted messaging apps provides a perfect array of tools for people with a thirst for revenge. He described brokers and hired heavies as the contract criminals of the web3 era. People seeking revenge don't want to get blood on their own hands, and all parties believe they won't be exposed if they use Telegram and cryptocurrencies, Oh said.
The schemes work in disturbing detail. One gang member working at an outsourcing firm connected to Baedal Minjok — South Korea's largest food delivery app — stole over 1,000 pieces of personal data. Police in Seoul's Yangcheon district arrested individuals suspected of throwing food waste at a victim's door on March 30. In another case, a Telegram chat room user announced a commission to force the room's closure via pornographic spam, then demanded crypto payment to prevent the shutdown.
Criminals believe USDT is difficult for police to trace. Dozens of proxy Telegram channels continue to spring up daily despite police crackdowns. Cheonji Ilbo reported that police are struggling to cope with the revenge-themed channels flooding the platform. The criminals advertise openly on X with phrases like "Revenge can be yours. Contact us today." Police continue hunting the masterminds operating in Gyeonggi Province, where at least 6 attacks occurred in 2026.
This article was written based on reporting from Dlnews.
