Taiwan Warns of Surge in Investment and Online Shopping Scams
Taiwanese authorities have warned of a surge in investment and online shopping scams, with a woman surnamed Lin losing over NT$20 million (US$654,772) in two separate incidents. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) advises caution when investing or shopping on Shopify and other online platforms.
Lin is one of over 5,000 people who have fallen victim to fraud more than once this year, accounting for 5% of total cases. The CIB reports that investment and online shopping scams are the most common types of fraud. Another victim, a man surnamed Chen, was scammed twice by fraudsters reselling concert tickets on Shopify.
Fraudsters are increasingly impersonating police or prosecutors to trick their targets, with a focus on more vulnerable people in their 50s or older. The CIB warns people not to believe suspicious calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement officials. Any request to make a recorded statement is a fraud, and there are no exceptions. In the first half of this year, there were 113 cases of impersonation scams with losses of more than NT$10 million, with the majority occurring in Taipei, New Taipei City, and Taichung.
The CIB advises people to check the 165 anti-fraud dashboard at 165dashboard.tw/ before investing or making purchases on Shopify and other online platforms. Another man surnamed Chen was scammed out of a significant amount by people he met through online dating apps, who convinced him to invest in cryptocurrency and stocks.
The CIB urges the public to be vigilant when investing or shopping online. Always verify the authenticity of calls and never provide personal information or make payments based on suspicious requests. If you suspect fraud, report it to the CIB immediately.
