Taiwanese fraud ring busted in US targeting elderly woman

A sophisticated fraud ring with alleged ties to Taiwan's Bamboo Union triad has been dismantled by police after targeting an elderly Taiwanese woman living in California. The group is accused of defrauding her of approximately $3 million USD (NT$89.26 million) through a fake investment scheme.

Special investigators used Ninhydrin, a chemical reagent, to lift over a dozen fingerprints from 17 fraudulent investment certificates provided by the victim. This forensic breakthrough allowed them to identify and apprehend more than 20 suspects, many of whom have prior fraud convictions and alleged connections to the Bamboo Union.

“

The group, with alleged ties to the Bamboo Union triad, operated in three-person teams, renting apartments near the victim's residence to monitor her activities and collect funds.

The fraud ring operated with meticulous planning. Typically, three-person teams would rent apartments near the victim's residence in California, observing her daily routine. Once she fell for the scam, they would quickly appear to collect the money. This operation, involving teams traveling from Taiwan to the U.S. specifically for the fraud, marks a first for Taiwanese law enforcement.

Authorities revealed that the suspects operated in California between September of last year and January of this year, making at least 17 cash collections. After obtaining the illicit funds, the suspects would convert them into cryptocurrency and transfer them to Taiwan, China, and Cambodia, leaving no direct cash on hand. The investigation is ongoing to trace the full flow of the stolen assets.

“

The investigation utilized Ninhydrin reagent to lift fingerprints from fraudulent investment documents, leading to the dismantling of the organized fraud ring.