Man Deceived by Online Mazu Commemorative Item Ad, Loses NT$70,000, Account Flagged by Police
Scammers capitalized on the 'Mazu frenzy' to defraud citizens through online ads offering Mazu commemorative items, resulting in a victim losing NT$70,000 and their bank account being flagged. The Criminal Investigation Bureau urges public caution and recommends using their AI smart customer service.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 16:46
- 🔍 Collected: May 2, 2026 at 17:01 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 2, 2026 at 17:15 (13 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei 2nd) The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) stated that scam groups capitalized on the "Mazu frenzy" in March, posting online social media advertisements offering free Baishatun Mazu commemorative items to deceive the public. One believer suffered a financial loss of NT$70,000, and their bank account was flagged by the police. The CIB urged the public to be aware of scam tactics impersonating temples.
The CIB today issued a press release stating that the 23rd day of the third lunar month is Mazu's birthday, and every year from March onwards, Taiwan experiences a "Mazu frenzy." Scam groups also exploit believers' piety to obtain illegal gains.
A Mr. Huang from central Taiwan discovered an advertisement on Facebook in mid-April offering free Baishatun Mazu bracelet commemorative items. After direct messaging the other party, he received a phishing link impersonating a third-party transaction platform. The criminals then used the excuse of "real-name authentication failure" to threaten the victim that his account had been locked.
The police said that the scam group informed the victim that if he wanted to unlock the locked account, he had to mail his ATM cards via a convenience store logistics service to a designated store, where a specialist would operate to unlock it.
The victim followed the instructions and mailed ATM cards from two banks, and also provided his passwords to the other party via messaging software. This resulted in the funds in his account being withdrawn and his account being used as a money laundering account, with multiple abnormal cash flows transferred into it.
The police stated that the victim ultimately suffered a financial loss of over NT$70,000 in savings, and his account was also listed as a flagged account, meaning he will face complex legal proceedings.
The CIB analyzed that these highly prevalent scam tactics recently involve placing advertisements for selling or gifting commemorative items on various social media platforms, then falsely claiming that cash flow verification or account unlocking is required. They send phishing links, guiding victims to transfer money, or even demanding they mail physical ATM cards and passwords.
The CIB stated that it will continue to collaborate with various social media platforms to strengthen the crackdown on scam advertisements. It urged the public not to transfer money or mail ATM cards based on instructions from strangers, and if in doubt, to call the 165 hotline or 110.
In addition, the National Police Agency has integrated an AI smart customer service assistant into its "165 Anti-Fraud Dashboard." This assistant provides real-time interactive consultations by integrating fraud prevention databases, can identify scam risks based on descriptions of scenarios provided by the public, and offers specific handling advice. It also has an instant inquiry function for suspicious website URLs, allowing it to determine if a website poses a scam risk. The CIB urged the public to make more use of this service. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150502
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(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei 2nd) The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) stated that scam groups capitalized on the "Mazu frenzy" in March, posting online social media advertisements offering free Baishatun Mazu commemorative items to deceive the public. One believer suffered a financial loss of NT$70,000, and their bank account was flagged by the police. The CIB urged the public to be aware of scam tactics impersonating temples.
The CIB today issued a press release stating that the 23rd day of the third lunar month is Mazu's birthday, and every year from March onwards, Taiwan experiences a "Mazu frenzy." Scam groups also exploit believers' piety to obtain illegal gains.
A Mr. Huang from central Taiwan discovered an advertisement on Facebook in mid-April offering free Baishatun Mazu bracelet commemorative items. After direct messaging the other party, he received a phishing link impersonating a third-party transaction platform. The criminals then used the excuse of "real-name authentication failure" to threaten the victim that his account had been locked.
The police said that the scam group informed the victim that if he wanted to unlock the locked account, he had to mail his ATM cards via a convenience store logistics service to a designated store, where a specialist would operate to unlock it.
The victim followed the instructions and mailed ATM cards from two banks, and also provided his passwords to the other party via messaging software. This resulted in the funds in his account being withdrawn and his account being used as a money laundering account, with multiple abnormal cash flows transferred into it.
The police stated that the victim ultimately suffered a financial loss of over NT$70,000 in savings, and his account was also listed as a flagged account, meaning he will face complex legal proceedings.
The CIB analyzed that these highly prevalent scam tactics recently involve placing advertisements for selling or gifting commemorative items on various social media platforms, then falsely claiming that cash flow verification or account unlocking is required. They send phishing links, guiding victims to transfer money, or even demanding they mail physical ATM cards and passwords.
The CIB stated that it will continue to collaborate with various social media platforms to strengthen the crackdown on scam advertisements. It urged the public not to transfer money or mail ATM cards based on instructions from strangers, and if in doubt, to call the 165 hotline or 110.
In addition, the National Police Agency has integrated an AI smart customer service assistant into its "165 Anti-Fraud Dashboard." This assistant provides real-time interactive consultations by integrating fraud prevention databases, can identify scam risks based on descriptions of scenarios provided by the public, and offers specific handling advice. It also has an instant inquiry function for suspicious website URLs, allowing it to determine if a website poses a scam risk. The CIB urged the public to make more use of this service. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150502
Choose to stand with facts; every donation is a force protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.