Gang Fraud Group Impersonates Police/Prosecutors to Defraud Elderly; Criminal Investigation Bureau Arrests 10 Suspects

Central News Agency (Reporter Huang Li-yun, Taipei 27th) A fraud and money laundering group, led by Lin, a member of the Bamboo Union Ming-Ren Chapter, used tactics of impersonating prosecutors and police to target elderly individuals for fraud. Their scheme involved drivers and collectors withdrawing and sharing the illicit gains. The Criminal Investigation Bureau tracked down and arrested 10 suspects for prosecution, with the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office indicting them in March. The National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Bureau today announced the successful case. Deputy Chief of the Ninth Investigation Brigade, Li Chi-hsun, stated that based on intelligence, they learned that the main suspect, gang member Lin, was suspected of forming a fraud and money laundering group with accomplices last year. Lin was responsible for connecting with fraudulent prosecutor/police call centers to obtain victim information. He then directed drivers to designated locations to collect the defrauded funds from victims. Finally, the drivers handed the money to collectors for layered distribution and sharing of illegal profits. Police investigations revealed that this fraud group targeted elderly individuals by impersonating the District Prosecutors' Office, police agencies, and household registration offices. They falsely claimed that the victims' documents had been misused and were involved in fraud cases, demanding control over the victims' assets and accounts. They also invoked "investigation confidentiality" to prevent victims from disclosing the case to others. Unsuspecting victims then followed instructions to deliver money and ATM cards to designated locations to the fraudsters impersonating public officials. Initial findings indicate that there are 4 known victims, with total losses reaching over NT$4.37 million, and the highest single victim loss being NT$2.2 million. The special task force, after several months of covert investigation and evidence collection, conducted two waves of arrests and searches on November 13 last year and January 28 this year. They apprehended Lin, accomplice Hsu, and 8 other suspects in various locations in New Taipei City, seizing evidence such as mobile phones, iPads, and Rolex watches. After questioning, all 10 suspects were transferred to the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office for investigation. Lin and 3 other suspects were remanded in custody by the court. The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office indicted them in March on charges including violations of the Organized Crime Prevention Act and the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150427