Nantou Woman Nearly Scammed by Caller Claiming Grandson Urgently Needed Money in Cambodia
A woman in Nantou County nearly fell victim to a scam after receiving a call from someone pretending to be her grandson in urgent need of money in Cambodia. She rushed to a post office to transfer NT$55,000, but a vigilant clerk found it suspicious and notified the police. Officers confirmed it was a scam and successfully prevented the woman from losing her money.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 18:42
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 19:01 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 20:58 (1h 56m after Collected)
A woman in Yuchi Township, who does not live with her grandson, recently received a call from someone claiming her grandson urgently needed money in Cambodia. The flustered woman rushed to the post office to remit the funds, but a clerk noticed something was amiss and alerted police for assistance. After verification, it was confirmed to be a scam tactic, and the woman's loss was prevented.
The Jiji Precinct of the Nantou County Police Bureau stated today that the woman received a call claiming her grandson was in Cambodia and needed to return to Taiwan but lacked money for his hotel and flight, requiring a remittance of NT$55,000 to a specified bank account. Worried about her grandson's safety, the woman hurried to the post office to make the transfer. The clerk recognized that the woman's story was very similar to "fake relative seeking help overseas" scams and reported it to the Yuchi Police Substation.
The Jiji Precinct said officers arrived to calm the woman and took her back to the station for further investigation. They discovered that the bank account she intended to transfer money to had already been reported as a scam account 8 times on the 165 anti-fraud hotline. Furthermore, the details of past reports were consistent with the woman's situation, all involving impersonating relatives in urgent need of money overseas. After checking with the family, it was confirmed that her grandson was indeed in Cambodia but had not asked for any money.
The Jiji Precinct stated that through the cooperation of the police officer and the post office clerk, the woman's financial loss was successfully prevented. The woman expressed her gratitude to the officer and clerk, saying, "Thank goodness for your help, otherwise I don't know what would have happened." Police also issued a reminder that scam groups often exploit the concern elders have for their family members by creating a fake "emergency situation." If you encounter a similar situation, it is crucial to first remain calm and verify the information from multiple sources.
Separately, the Ren'ai Precinct of the Nantou County Police Bureau announced today that foreign affairs police officer Chien Yu-han encountered a foreign woman seeking help while on patrol in a remote mountainous area. Chien, who is fluent in English, immediately communicated with her in English and learned that the foreign woman was lost due to being unfamiliar with the roads. The officer listened patiently and provided careful assistance and directions. The foreign woman expressed deep gratitude for the police's warm assistance. (Editor: Hsiao Po-wen) 1150414
The Jiji Precinct of the Nantou County Police Bureau stated today that the woman received a call claiming her grandson was in Cambodia and needed to return to Taiwan but lacked money for his hotel and flight, requiring a remittance of NT$55,000 to a specified bank account. Worried about her grandson's safety, the woman hurried to the post office to make the transfer. The clerk recognized that the woman's story was very similar to "fake relative seeking help overseas" scams and reported it to the Yuchi Police Substation.
The Jiji Precinct said officers arrived to calm the woman and took her back to the station for further investigation. They discovered that the bank account she intended to transfer money to had already been reported as a scam account 8 times on the 165 anti-fraud hotline. Furthermore, the details of past reports were consistent with the woman's situation, all involving impersonating relatives in urgent need of money overseas. After checking with the family, it was confirmed that her grandson was indeed in Cambodia but had not asked for any money.
The Jiji Precinct stated that through the cooperation of the police officer and the post office clerk, the woman's financial loss was successfully prevented. The woman expressed her gratitude to the officer and clerk, saying, "Thank goodness for your help, otherwise I don't know what would have happened." Police also issued a reminder that scam groups often exploit the concern elders have for their family members by creating a fake "emergency situation." If you encounter a similar situation, it is crucial to first remain calm and verify the information from multiple sources.
Separately, the Ren'ai Precinct of the Nantou County Police Bureau announced today that foreign affairs police officer Chien Yu-han encountered a foreign woman seeking help while on patrol in a remote mountainous area. Chien, who is fluent in English, immediately communicated with her in English and learned that the foreign woman was lost due to being unfamiliar with the roads. The officer listened patiently and provided careful assistance and directions. The foreign woman expressed deep gratitude for the police's warm assistance. (Editor: Hsiao Po-wen) 1150414
FAQ
What tactic did the scammer use?
The scammer impersonated the woman's grandson, falsely claiming he urgently needed NT$55,000 in Cambodia for hotel fees and a plane ticket.
How was the fraud prevented?
A post office clerk found the woman's story suspicious and reported it to the police. Police investigation confirmed the destination bank account was a known fraudulent account, and they successfully stopped the remittance.