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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Crime & Justice

Taiwanese 'charity blind box' event sparks fraud allegations; police urge victims to report

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A "charity blind box" event in Tainan, Taiwan, is under investigation after customers who won prizes could not redeem them.
  • The "Sunny Hug" booth at the Tainan Nanfang Shopping Center sold boxes for 100 NT dollars, promising handmade cookies and a chance to win prizes.
  • Eslite, the bookstore hosting the event, is assisting affected customers, and police urge victims to report the incident as potential fraud.

Customers who purchased "charity blind boxes" at a Tainan department store are alleging fraud after winning prizes that could not be redeemed. The "Sunny Hug" booth, located within the Eslite bookstore at the Nanfang Shopping Center, sold boxes for 100 NT dollars (approximately $3 USD) each. Each box guaranteed a minimum prize of handmade cookies from "Happy Kids," with the chance to win additional prizes.

One customer reported buying over 20 boxes with friends and winning Eslite gift certificates. However, after contacting the official account to claim their winnings, they found the customer service unresponsive. Upon returning to the booth, they discovered it was empty, with no staff present.

Regarding the vendor's improper conduct, to protect customer rights, consumers who made purchases at the Tainan Nanfang store from July 1st are requested to contact Eslite customer service for assistance and confirmation.

— EsliteThe bookstore's official response to the controversy.

Numerous other consumers have taken to social media to complain, accusing the vendor of using a charitable cause as a front for a scam. The "Sunny Hug" booth has reportedly disappeared, leaving customers with unfulfilled prizes. The incident has sparked outrage, with many questioning the legitimacy of the "charity" aspect of the sales.

Eslite has acknowledged the controversy and stated they are working with relevant authorities to address the issue. They have urged customers who made purchases at the Tainan Nanfang branch from July 1 onwards to contact Eslite customer service for assistance. The police have not yet received official reports but are aware of the situation and are calling on any affected individuals to file a police report to aid in the investigation. While Eslite is facilitating communication, the exact number of victims and the extent of the alleged fraud remain unclear.

We urge victims who have had similar experiences to report to the police as soon as possible to facilitate subsequent investigations.

— Tainan Police (Yifenzhi Bureau)Police appeal to victims to come forward.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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