Yet another Malaysian has been arrested in Taiwan for acting as a 'runner' for a scam syndicate.
According to a report by United Daily News on the 24th, a Malaysian man with the surname Chen was arrested by police in Changhua County, Lukang Township while collecting 'investment funds' during a 'working' holiday in Taiwan.
The report states that Chen (28) had been in Taiwan on a one-week tour and, on the third day, followed instructions to collect cash in Lukang Township. He had dyed light-brown hair and his unfamiliarity with the area drew the attention of the local residents, who discreetly alerted the police at Yuanlin Station. Officers from the Linjia Police Station quickly arrived and apprehended Chen.
The victim, a 69-year-old woman named Xie, saw a post about investment guidance on a Facebook community page. After adding the post author as a friend, she was immediately contacted by a 'financial consultant' who persuaded her to join a Line investment group. She was instructed on operating stock investments online and was asked to hand over investment funds of 240,000 NT dollars (approximately 33,000 Malaysian ringgits) in person to an 'investment consultant.' Chen, a Malaysian national, presented a forged work permit to collect the funds. The police informed her that 'they are a scam syndicate,' leaving her momentarily stunned, and only upon their explanation did she realize the investment plan was a scam.
Police stated on the 24th that previously the foreign runners came from Hong Kong, but recently, they have been Malaysian Chinese youths, all claiming to be tourists. In this case, the Malaysian runner committed the crime three days after arriving in Lukang, similar to the previous case where a Malaysian internet celebrity committed a crime three days after arriving in Shetou. Although they believed they were 'earning easy money' while traveling, unaware of the scam involvement, police will further clarify the case details.
According to a report by United Daily News on the 24th, a Malaysian man with the surname Chen was arrested by police in Changhua County, Lukang Township while collecting 'investment funds' during a 'working' holiday in Taiwan.
The report states that Chen (28) had been in Taiwan on a one-week tour and, on the third day, followed instructions to collect cash in Lukang Township. He had dyed light-brown hair and his unfamiliarity with the area drew the attention of the local residents, who discreetly alerted the police at Yuanlin Station. Officers from the Linjia Police Station quickly arrived and apprehended Chen.
The victim, a 69-year-old woman named Xie, saw a post about investment guidance on a Facebook community page. After adding the post author as a friend, she was immediately contacted by a 'financial consultant' who persuaded her to join a Line investment group. She was instructed on operating stock investments online and was asked to hand over investment funds of 240,000 NT dollars (approximately 33,000 Malaysian ringgits) in person to an 'investment consultant.' Chen, a Malaysian national, presented a forged work permit to collect the funds. The police informed her that 'they are a scam syndicate,' leaving her momentarily stunned, and only upon their explanation did she realize the investment plan was a scam.
Police stated on the 24th that previously the foreign runners came from Hong Kong, but recently, they have been Malaysian Chinese youths, all claiming to be tourists. In this case, the Malaysian runner committed the crime three days after arriving in Lukang, similar to the previous case where a Malaysian internet celebrity committed a crime three days after arriving in Shetou. Although they believed they were 'earning easy money' while traveling, unaware of the scam involvement, police will further clarify the case details.