TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's digital security officials have documented an alarming spike in online fraud, with confirmed scam cases jumping by nearly one-third in a single week. The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA, 數發部), Taiwan's government agency overseeing digital policy, revealed Friday (May 9) that verified online fraud incidents totaled 3,401 between April 27 and May 3, representing a 32.16% increase from the previous week's figures.
MODA Deputy Minister Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) addressed reporters following a cabinet session, announcing that authorities have launched the second phase of public testing for Taiwan's Internet Fraud Reporting and Inquiry Network. The mobile application is now accessible for public download. Officials from the Administration for Digital Industries (ADI, 數產署), a division within MODA, disclosed that they processed 4,922 reports of potential scam communications during the same seven-day window.
The government data revealed a striking concentration of fraudulent activity on Meta platforms, which accounted for an overwhelming 92.86% of all documented cases. Other digital channels showed considerably lower but still concerning rates: LINE messaging app at 3.35%, fraudulent websites at 3.18%, Google services at 0.15%, TikTok at 0.03%, with miscellaneous scams comprising the remaining 0.44%. The analysis further categorized the nature of these deceptions, with financial investment schemes dominating at 53.28%, followed by identity impersonation scams at 21.41%, and fraudulent product or service offers at 15.26%.
Taiwan's digital industry officials issued a public warning for citizens to maintain heightened awareness when navigating online platforms. The Administration for Digital Industries also highlighted a security enhancement from LINE, the popular messaging service, which has implemented a new "re-login" authentication feature in versions 15.4.0 and newer. Officials strongly recommended that users install the latest application updates immediately to safeguard their accounts against unauthorized access and potential theft. ★
