A 65-year-old woman surnamed Zhong from Taipei City intended to buy a pre-sale property in Malaysia through a friend’s introduction. She recently went to the bank to wire 120,000 US dollars (about 500,000 ringgit). Fortunately, a bank employee noticed something unusual and promptly alerted the police. Officers arrived at the scene and spent over 20 minutes persuading her, ultimately preventing a cross-border scam and safeguarding the woman’s hard-earned savings.
According to a report from United Daily News on the 1st, Xiamen Street Police Station of Zhongzheng Second Precinct explained that in late October, staff at CTBC Bank's Guting Branch observed Ms. Zhong attempting an over-the-counter transfer but looking nervous and responding evasively about the reason. Sensing possible fraud, they called the police. After investigating, police learned that Ms. Zhong planned to buy a pre-sale house in Malaysia through a friend’s introduction and was following instructions to remit money to the "developer."
However, after examining the transaction documents provided by Ms. Zhong, police found that there was no company registration certificate or stamp attached, and the documents lacked cross-page seals—clearly not in line with proper transaction procedures. The officers then explained recent cases of overseas real estate investment scams, patiently persuading her to postpone the transfer. Upon hearing this, Ms. Zhong suddenly understood and immediately abandoned the idea of wiring the money.
The police remind the public that scam tactics are constantly evolving, ranging from investment and house-buying to online dating traps. When making large transfers, people should thoroughly verify before proceeding.