A Russian sailor who cashed a fake 10 billion won ($8.8 million) check was arrested on Wednesday.
The Busan Saha police said the 29-year-old Russian exchanged the visibly crude counterfeit check at a convenience store for 650,000 won.
Police discovered the store’s part-time worker to be verbally impaired and lacking in discernment.
Emboldened by the initial success, the man attempted an identical trick two hours later at another convenience store, but was instantly exposed by the shop owner there.
A chase ensued before the Russian man was caught by the shop owner’s friend.
The police identified the man as a crew member of a Russian ship docked at Busan’s Gamcheonhang Port.
The man testified that he got the fake check from a claw machine at Choryang-dong Russian street and kept it as a joke.
The police are currently searching for the man’s accomplice, who is also Russian and aged 50.
By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)