Taipei Trading Card Shop Owner Vanishes, Customers Allege Fraud
Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A popular trading card shop in Taipei's Wanhua District, 'Xiao Yang Card Shop,' has suddenly closed, with its owner reportedly absconding with funds.
- The shop, known for its competitive prices and reasonable commission rates for consignment sales, had gained popularity since opening in January.
- Customers and employees are reporting the incident to the police, alleging fraud, as they have not received salaries or funds from sales.
Customers and employees of 'Xiao Yang Card Shop' in Taipei's Wanhua District are demanding answers after the store abruptly closed its doors and its owner, identified by the surname Zheng, allegedly disappeared with customer funds. The shop, which opened in January, had become a popular spot for trading card enthusiasts due to its affordable prices and lower commission rates for consignment services.
Reports indicate that the shop's official social media and LINE groups were suddenly shut down early Tuesday morning. When customers arrived at the physical store, they found it locked, with indications that the premises were empty. Some customers have accused the owner of absconding with their money, leading to multiple fraud complaints being filed with the police.
The owner and assistant have both left the group.
An employee who works part-time at the shop stated they learned of the closure from a friend on Tuesday morning. Upon checking the relevant group chats, they discovered that both the owner and an assistant had left the group. The employee, along with two other part-time staff members, has not yet received their July salaries and has been unable to contact the owner.
Prior to its sudden closure, 'Xiao Yang Card Shop' had maintained a clean record, with no prior transaction disputes or issues reported since its opening. The shop also reportedly issued invoices in compliance with regulations, which contributed to its reputation as a trustworthy establishment within the trading card community. Police are now investigating the fraud allegations and attempting to locate the owner.
My salary for July has not been received yet.
Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.