Man narrowly avoids NT$4 million fraud after fake police demand gold purchase

A man in New Taipei City narrowly escaped a sophisticated fake police scam after being instructed to withdraw NT$4 million to purchase gold for a fictitious "fund supervision" scheme. The victim, identified as Mr. Dai, was contacted by an individual posing as a prosecutor from the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office via LINE. He was falsely accused of involvement in a criminal case and told he needed to buy gold to safeguard his assets.

Following the scammer's instructions, Dai went to a branch of the Taiwan Bank in Yonghe District, intending to withdraw the substantial sum. However, alert bank tellers recognized the suspicious nature of the transaction, particularly the request to purchase gold under the guise of a religious offering to avoid scrutiny. They immediately contacted the Yonghe Police Precinct.

Officers from the Shengxin Police Station arrived at the scene and confirmed it was a typical "fake police" fraud. They successfully stopped Dai from withdrawing the money, saving his savings. Crucially, the police also learned that the scam group planned to meet Dai for a face-to-face exchange of the gold.

Based on this intelligence, police organized an ambush operation. Within two hours, they apprehended a 17-year-old suspect, identified by his surname Lu, at the agreed meeting point in Yonghe's Ren'ai Park. Police seized NT$80,000 in cash and a mobile phone from the suspect. The teenager was handed over to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on fraud charges, and authorities are now working to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal organization.

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The judicial authorities will never ask the public to withdraw cash, buy gold, or hand over property for safekeeping.