TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Police arrested two individuals on Tuesday (Dec. 10) in Taipei's Neihu District (台北市內湖區) for their involvement in a fraud case that led to the tragic deaths of a mother and daughter. Authorities have identified nine suspects, five of whom are already in custody and two of whom are still at large, following the scam that defrauded the victims of NT$12 million.
The scam, which occurred in 2024, involved fraudsters impersonating financial YouTubers "ZRBros" (柴鼠兄弟), convincing the victims to transfer money and even mortgage their property for NT$1.7 million. From July to October, the victims transferred cash, but despite police efforts to freeze accounts, the funds remain unrecovered.
Police explained that the fraudsters withdrew the money quickly after each transfer, leaving only small amounts in the accounts. The victims' delayed reporting also hindered recovery efforts. In July, suspect Yang (楊) collected NT$200,000, while suspect Huang (黃) received NT$400,000 in August. The victims were initially lured via Facebook investment ads and persuaded to invest in stocks.
Meanwhile, Officer Liu (劉) from the Gangqian Police Station (港墘派出所), who handled the case, faced criticism for inadvertently making a discouraging comment during a call with the mother. Consequently, authorities have disciplined Liu with a major demerit and reassigned him. The case has been forwarded to prosecutors for further investigation, with the aim of clarifying the circumstances and bringing the remaining suspects to justice.
>>> If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1995 to reach the Suicide Prevention Line. You can also call the Peace of Mind Line, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW ), at 1925, or the Teacher Chang Foundation at 1980 for additional resources.
