Man Sells Phone Number for NT$1,000, Ordered to Pay NT$40 Million to Fraud Victim
A man in Taichung, surnamed Lin, sold his mobile phone number for NT$1,000, which was then used by a fraud syndicate to swindle a woman out of NT$43.3 million. The Taichung District Court ruled that Lin must fully compensate the victim. Lin was also involved in online fraud by posting fake advertisements on Facebook, defrauding buyers of NT$6,860.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 17, 2026 at 11:33
- 🔍 Collected: April 17, 2026 at 12:01 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 17:05 (5h 4m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hao Hsueh-ching, Taichung 17th) A man surnamed Lin in Taichung City sold his mobile phone number for NT$1,000. The number was then used by a fraud syndicate, leading to a woman being defrauded of NT$43.3 million. The Taichung District Court ruled that Lin must fully compensate the victim, and the case can be appealed.
According to investigations by prosecutors and police, Lin sold his mobile phone number to an unknown person in February of the year before last, earning NT$1,000. The number was then used by a fraud syndicate, which falsely claimed to the victimized woman that her account was involved in money laundering and required cooperation with investigations, demanding control of her assets. This led the victim to fall into a fake police/prosecutor fraud trap, successively transferring multiple sums, totaling NT$43.3 million, before realizing she had been defrauded.
In addition to selling his mobile phone number, prosecutors and police stated that Lin also posted fake advertisements on Facebook at the end of the year before last, inducing buyers to transfer NT$6,860 before blocking them.
The Taichung District Court believes that Lin sold his mobile phone number for a small profit, facilitating fraudulent activities, and was also involved in online fraud. Although he admitted to the crimes and reached a settlement and compensation with the defrauded buyers, he has not yet compensated the victim who was defrauded of NT$43.3 million due to his sold number. He was sentenced to 6 months and 7 months imprisonment respectively for aiding and abetting fraud and online fraud.
As the victimized woman filed a civil claim attached to the criminal case, arguing that Lin's provision of the phone number enabled the fraud to succeed, and demanded full compensation for the losses, the civil court of the district court ruled that Lin knew that delivering his mobile phone number to others might be used for fraud, yet he still did so, forming a division of labor relationship with the fraud syndicate, and thus was a joint tortfeasor. Since he did not appear in court or respond, it was deemed self-admitted, and he was ordered to pay NT$43.3 million in compensation. The case can be appealed. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150417
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
(Central News Agency reporter Hao Hsueh-ching, Taichung 17th) A man surnamed Lin in Taichung City sold his mobile phone number for NT$1,000. The number was then used by a fraud syndicate, leading to a woman being defrauded of NT$43.3 million. The Taichung District Court ruled that Lin must fully compensate the victim, and the case can be appealed.
According to investigations by prosecutors and police, Lin sold his mobile phone number to an unknown person in February of the year before last, earning NT$1,000. The number was then used by a fraud syndicate, which falsely claimed to the victimized woman that her account was involved in money laundering and required cooperation with investigations, demanding control of her assets. This led the victim to fall into a fake police/prosecutor fraud trap, successively transferring multiple sums, totaling NT$43.3 million, before realizing she had been defrauded.
In addition to selling his mobile phone number, prosecutors and police stated that Lin also posted fake advertisements on Facebook at the end of the year before last, inducing buyers to transfer NT$6,860 before blocking them.
The Taichung District Court believes that Lin sold his mobile phone number for a small profit, facilitating fraudulent activities, and was also involved in online fraud. Although he admitted to the crimes and reached a settlement and compensation with the defrauded buyers, he has not yet compensated the victim who was defrauded of NT$43.3 million due to his sold number. He was sentenced to 6 months and 7 months imprisonment respectively for aiding and abetting fraud and online fraud.
As the victimized woman filed a civil claim attached to the criminal case, arguing that Lin's provision of the phone number enabled the fraud to succeed, and demanded full compensation for the losses, the civil court of the district court ruled that Lin knew that delivering his mobile phone number to others might be used for fraud, yet he still did so, forming a division of labor relationship with the fraud syndicate, and thus was a joint tortfeasor. Since he did not appear in court or respond, it was deemed self-admitted, and he was ordered to pay NT$43.3 million in compensation. The case can be appealed. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150417
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
FAQ
What was the consequence of Mr. Lin selling his phone number?
Mr. Lin's sold phone number was used by a fraud syndicate to swindle a woman out of NT$43.3 million.
What other fraudulent activities was Mr. Lin involved in?
Mr. Lin was also involved in online fraud by posting fake advertisements on Facebook, defrauding buyers of NT$6,860.