Woman arrested near ATM with multiple bank cards, suspected of fraud and money laundering

Taipei police arrested a 32-year-old woman suspected of involvement in fraud and money laundering after she was observed acting suspiciously at an ATM.

The woman, identified by the surname Liang, was seen wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses to conceal her face while repeatedly withdrawing cash. Patrol officers from the Zhongzheng First Precinct noticed her behavior and approached her. During the stop, police discovered six bank cards from various banks, including First Bank and CTBC Bank, along with NT$41,000 in cash.

When questioned about the origin of the cards and their PINs, Liang could not provide a satisfactory explanation. She eventually admitted to assisting in the withdrawal of illicit funds. Police confiscated the evidence and took her into custody for further investigation under the Money Laundering Control Act. Authorities are also tracing the source of the funds and cards through her mobile phone.

The police department stated they will enhance patrols around financial institutions and ATMs to combat fraud and protect public assets. They also urged the public not to fall for high-paying job offers for simple tasks like withdrawing money, as it could lead to becoming an accomplice in criminal activities.

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She was unable to reasonably explain the source of the withdrawal cards, passwords, and cardholder identities.