Hengchun Pole Climbing Event Targeted by Fake Recruitment Scam

The annual Hengchun Mid-Festival Pole Climbing event, a significant local tradition, is facing an unusual challenge before its August 27th commencement. Online platforms, including Threads, are abuzz with a recruitment message that falsely claims to be from the Hengchun Township Office.

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The post is entirely false and an unauthorized fraudulent trap.

The deceptive post offers an attractive hourly wage of NT$240, promising payment within 24 hours of work, which spans from 2 PM to midnight. It even specifies a target demographic of individuals over 30. The detailed schedule, mimicking the event's flow from religious ceremonies to the main pole-climbing competition, has lent an air of authenticity, tricking many locals seeking part-time work.

However, the Hengchun Township Office has vehemently denied issuing any such advertisement. They emphasize that all official recruitment and event information is exclusively published on their "Hengchun Township Office Global Information Network" and official Facebook page. The event's contractor also confirmed that recruitment has not yet begun, reinforcing the fraudulent nature of the online posts.

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The event contractor emphasized that recruitment has not even begun.

Authorities suspect a scam operation is exploiting the event's popularity to harvest personal data, including ID numbers, bank account details, or to trick people into making fraudulent payments. The public is strongly advised to exercise caution, verify any suspicious job offers directly with the township office, or contact the anti-fraud hotline at 165.

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Scammers are taking advantage of the event's popularity to trick people into revealing personal information or making payments.