Taiwanese taxi driver hailed for thrice thwarting scams

A taxi driver in Taiwan has earned accolades for his vigilance and quick thinking, assisting police in foiling a scam on three separate occasions. The driver, identified by the surname Hong, has been instrumental in protecting individuals from falling victim to fraudulent schemes.

Hong, who frequently drives between Kaohsiung and Pingtung, has a history of aiding law enforcement. Previously, he helped thwart a scam in Luzhu District and received a NT$10,000 reward from the National Police Agency for reporting a money mule. His most recent intervention occurred on July 7, when he was driving a 46-year-old woman, surnamed Lin, to Kaohsiung.

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When I was driving the passenger, she kept talking on the phone and I heard scam-related terms. She was told to go to a specific location to pick up something. Based on my previous experience helping police thwart scams, I immediately suspected she was a money mule.

During the ride, Hong overheard Lin on the phone, receiving instructions to meet someone at a convenience store in Fengshan District to pick up an item. Recognizing the tell-tale signs of a scam, Hong suspected she was a money mule. After Lin exited the vehicle, Hong immediately drove to the Fenggang police station to report his suspicions. Based on the description Hong provided, police were able to apprehend Lin at the convenience store. She was involved in a romance scam and was acting as a money mule to collect NT$100,000. Police used Lin to set up a sting operation, leading to the arrest of another suspect, surnamed Su, who was attempting to collect the money. This operation successfully protected Su's savings.

Fengshan Precinct Chief Wang Chun-sheng personally commended Hong for his civic duty and presented him with a NT$3,000 reward. Hong humbly stated that he acted instinctively upon hearing scam-related jargon and recognizing the pattern from his previous experience. He emphasized that he didn't expect a reward and considered it a simple act of helping others. Police lauded his cooperation in combating fraud.

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I didn't even think about it, I immediately reported it to the police. It doesn't matter if there's a reward, it's just a small thing to help.