Four arrested in Taichung over fraud operationBy Liu Yung-yun, Wu Sheng-ju and Jason Pan / Staff reportersA Taichung-based criminal operation was allegedly defrauding Chinese living outside China by co-opting online profiles of attractive people, authorities said after arrests were made at a property in Daya District (大雅) over alleged telecom fraud. A man surnamed Hsiao (蕭), who allegedly headed the operation, and three others have been accused of running an operation targeting single Chinese via romance and investment scams, the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau said in a statement last month. The four suspects have been questioned and are in pre-trial detention on charges of engaging in telecom scams, aggravated fraud and money laundering, the bureau said. They targeted Chinese who were single and residing outside of China, as well as people in China, by co-opting online profiles of attractive young men and women to entice people into fraud traps, it said. “People must be alert to the possibility that online relationships can easily be faked and avoid online investment schemes,” the bureau said.

Source: Taipei Times April 03, 2026 17:17 UTC