TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Authorities have reported a surge in scams across Taiwan, coinciding with the upcoming Lunar New Year. The National Police Agency's (警政署) "165 Anti-Fraud Dashboard" (165打詐儀錶板) recorded 3,498 fraud cases from Jan. 12-18, resulting in financial losses of over NT$2.45 billion (US$0.08 billion). Fake investment scams alone accounted for a staggering NT$1.51 billion (US$0.046 billion) in losses.
Statistics revealed 938 fake investment scam cases last week, followed by 444 online shopping scams, which led to losses of NT$16.59 million (US$503,676). The third most common scam involved fake buyers deceiving sellers, with 328 cases and financial damage totaling NT$33.54 million (US$1.02 million).
Among the top five scam types, fake friendship or marriage scams stood out with 287 cases last week, leading to losses of NT$0.356 billion (US$0.011 billion). Each case averaged NT$1.24 million (US$37,758) in losses, highlighting the severe financial impact of these scams.
In December 2024, fraud losses across Taiwan reached NT$12.435 billion (US$0.379 billion), with Taipei City (台北市) handling the most cases, at 2,064. Meanwhile, Taoyuan City (桃園市) suffered the highest financial losses, amounting to NT$1.697 billion (US$0.052 billion). The agency advises the public to invest through legal channels and cautions against promises of guaranteed profits or high returns with low risk. They also warn against downloading suspicious investment apps and sharing online banking credentials with strangers.
The continued rise in scams underscores the importance of vigilance and awareness, especially during festive seasons. Authorities urge the public to stay informed and report suspicious activities to prevent further losses.
