Telecom fraud operation busted in Taichung

台中市破獲電信詐騙案

TAICHUNG (Taiwan News) — Taichung police announced that 25 members of a telecom fraud ring operating in central Taiwan have been arrested.

In a statement Friday, the Taichung Police Criminal Investigation Corps said the group is suspected of defrauding more than 250 people with losses exceeding NT$500 million (US$16.5 million). The suspects allegedly colluded with a manager at a telecommunications company to carry out the scheme, per CNA.

Police said they traced calls made from roughly 4,000 fraudulent telephone numbers, which led them to a telecom operator surnamed Chang (張). One tactic involved calling victims while impersonating police officers.

Chang allegedly used an overseas data center to create fraudulent telecom accounts. The suspects then demanded payments via ATM deposits or digital currency transfers.

In three separate operations, police arrested 25 individuals and seized mobile phones, Thai telephone cards, vehicles, and an illegal firearm.

The case has been forwarded to the Taichung Prosecutors Office. Of those arrested, six have been ordered detained without bail or visitation rights, per CNA.