TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Police arrested 17 individuals, including the alleged ringleader, in a fraud scheme that targeted victims twice by exploiting their personal data to seize real estate assets. Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (刑事局) announced the dismantling of the sophisticated operation on Monday (Jan. 12). The ring operated from a shell company in Taipei's Zhongshan District (中山區), posing as intermediaries and financiers offering private loans.
Investigators identified Su (蘇), the alleged mastermind, as a man with a background in real estate who established the shell company and rented office space to facilitate fraudulent activities. Su's team contacted victims who had already been defrauded but still owned property, offering private loans to help resolve their financial issues. The group ultimately aimed to defraud victims of their properties through manipulated mortgage arrangements, authorities said.
The fraud ring's operation involved collaboration between different factions targeting victims at multiple stages of financial vulnerability. The primary scam group, after depleting victims' cash, passed a list of those with real estate holdings to Su's secondary operation. Su's group then manipulated these victims into mortgaging their properties, promising financial solutions but ultimately intending to seize their assets through deceptive loan arrangements.
One case involved a tech executive who initially fell for an investment scam, meeting with couriers 15 times and handing over more than NT$50 million (around US$1.6 million) in cash. When fraudsters discovered his property in Linkou District (林口), they transferred his information to Su's fake brokerage group. Su's associates then lured him into mortgaging his property under false pretenses.
Taiwan is one of the most heavily targeted populations for scams worldwide, with adults facing an average of 149 scams per year, according to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance. The proliferation of social media and direct messaging apps has made it easier for scammers to target their victims. Fraud attempts are becoming more sophisticated, with advanced attacks surging 180% worldwide in 2025. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31)
>>> If you or someone you know encounters suspicious calls, text messages, emails, or online offers (including investment schemes, fake government officials, or impersonation scams), immediately contact Taiwan's Anti-Fraud Hotline at 165 for free, 24/7 consultation and assistance. Do not provide personal information or transfer money until you have verified the legitimacy.
