Taiwan court acquits man tricked into money laundering via video-watching scam

A man in Tainan, Taiwan, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being acquitted of fraud and money laundering charges. The court ruled that he did not knowingly participate in a criminal scheme, despite providing his bank account details for what he believed was a simple part-time job.

The man, identified by the surname Huang, responded to an online advertisement promising earnings of NT$5 for every 5-second short video watched. He downloaded an app, entered his account information, and was instructed to watch videos and upload screenshots. After accumulating a certain amount, he withdrew the funds. However, he later discovered the platform was a scam and was blocked, leading him to not report the incident as he had suffered no financial loss himself.

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The task is to watch a 5-second short video every day, upload a screenshot, and earn 5 yuan per video.

Prosecutors accused Huang of knowingly providing his account to a fraud ring, which then used it to receive NT$650 and NT$510 from a victim, Ms. Xu. Huang subsequently withdrew and transferred these funds. The prosecution argued this constituted fraud and money laundering.

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The court investigated and found that during the period of the case, similar incidents occurred in various parts of Taiwan, with many people also handing over accounts due to the 'watch videos for rewards' scam, and were subsequently found by prosecutors to lack subjective intent and were not prosecuted.

During the trial, Huang maintained his innocence, explaining that he was lured by the promise of easy money and did not realize the account would be used for illegal activities. He stated he only withdrew the funds after reaching the earning threshold and that the delay in transferring the money, sometimes until the next day, and even transferring his own funds into the account, differed from the typical modus operandi of money mules who immediately withdraw illicit cash.

The court noted that similar cases had occurred across Taiwan, where individuals were deceived by "watch videos for rewards" scams. In many of these instances, prosecutors found insufficient evidence of criminal intent and issued non-prosecution orders. The Tainan District Court ultimately ruled in Huang's favor, citing the principle that any doubt in evidence benefits the defendant. While acknowledging Huang's carelessness in providing his account for meager profits, the court found the prosecution failed to prove he was aware it was a money laundering trap or that he intended to cooperate with the crime. The acquittal underscores the evolving sophistication of online scams and the challenges in prosecuting individuals who become unwitting accomplices.

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Based on the principle that doubt in evidence benefits the defendant, the court ruled not guilty.