Romance scammer lured Changhua woman into seeking NT$6 million crypto loan

A 64-year-old woman in Changhua nearly took out a loan of more than NT$6 million after an online man used affectionate messages to persuade her to invest in cryptocurrency.

The woman met the man through LINE. He began by chatting with her and building an emotional relationship, sending daily messages and showing concern for her. After gaining her trust, he encouraged her to put money into virtual currency, promising high returns.

He also gave her the contact details of another LINE user known as “Dr. Coin,” whom he described as a cryptocurrency dealer. The woman planned to meet the dealer in Taichung to hand over the money, prompting her to apply for a loan of about NT$6 million at a financial institution in Changhua.

Staff reviewing the application found the purpose of the loan suspicious and notified police. Officers Yang Zhe-yu and Zhuang Hao-jun from the Citong Police Station examined the woman’s phone messages and recognized a familiar pattern: a fake romantic relationship followed by pressure to make a cryptocurrency investment.

Police explained that scammers often establish trust through online dating before directing victims to transfer or deliver funds. They advised her not to follow payment instructions from strangers online. The woman realized she had been targeted and canceled the loan.