CIB: New 'Fake Prosecutor/Police' Scam Method Intercepts Calls and Then Steals Funds
Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) warned of a new and highly dangerous 'fake prosecutor/police' scam, combining call forwarding with financial theft. Scammers now instruct victims to enable call forwarding using "**21*", intercepting all incoming calls to bypass financial verification and then illegally using credit cards and securities accounts. A victim lost over NT$3.66 million in this new scam, prompting the CIB to urge public vigilance.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 16:02
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 16:31 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 17:55 (1h 23m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, 9th) The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) today stated that there has been a significant change in the "fake prosecutor/police" scam methods. Scam groups are now combining call forwarding with financial theft, forming a new type of "financial takeover" crime model, the degree of harm of which far exceeds previous methods. The public is urged to heighten vigilance.
The CIB issued a press release stating that some members of the public, after entering "**21*", had all their calls forwarded to scam groups. It is judged that the fake prosecutor/police scam methods have undergone significant changes, evolving from deceiving victims' personal data through calls or video to conduct interviews, to recently manipulating citizens' mobile phone communication functions, intercepting all incoming calls, and breaking through financial defense lines.
Ms. Liu, an office worker in New Taipei City, received a call in January this year from criminals impersonating a hospital, falsely claiming that her identification documents had been misused and were involved in illegal withdrawal of controlled drugs. Subsequently, fake police and clerks contacted her via communication software, demanding her cooperation in an investigation and a video interview.
The police stated that Ms. Liu, the victim, was induced by the criminals' deceptive tactics to provide personal information, credit card information, online banking, and securities account passwords. The scam group also claimed that this was to verify capital flows.
The CIB stated that the related statements mentioned by the scam group are not normal investigative procedures but are designed to control the public's payment tools and prepare for unauthorized spending. The real key to this case lies in "call forwarding."
The police found that in this case, the scam group instructed the victim to operate her mobile phone and enter "**21*" followed by a designated number. After completing the call forwarding setting, all incoming calls to the victim were forwarded to the phone controlled by the scam group.
The police stated that after successfully controlling the victim's communications and other data, the scam group illegally used credit cards from multiple banks for 19 transactions within two days, totaling over NT$2.6 million. The victim's securities account was also used to sell holdings and cash out approximately NT$1.05 million, with total financial losses exceeding NT$3.66 million.
The police emphasized that the fake prosecutor/police scam has upgraded from deceiving data and remittances to a complex crime involving buying new mobile phones, downloading unknown apps, binding credit cards, setting up call forwarding, and taking over financial verification.
The CIB urges the public that if they receive a call and are asked to download unknown apps, bind credit cards, or enter "**21*" to set up call forwarding, they should immediately stop the operation and heighten vigilance. They should also never provide sensitive information such as credit card, online banking, or securities account passwords. If suspicious circumstances are encountered, call the 165 hotline or visit the "165 Anti-Fraud Dashboard" website. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150509
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 grasp the latest news instantly.
Unauthorized reproduction, public broadcasting, public transmission, or use of the text, images, and videos on this website is prohibited.
(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, 9th) The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) today stated that there has been a significant change in the "fake prosecutor/police" scam methods. Scam groups are now combining call forwarding with financial theft, forming a new type of "financial takeover" crime model, the degree of harm of which far exceeds previous methods. The public is urged to heighten vigilance.
The CIB issued a press release stating that some members of the public, after entering "**21*", had all their calls forwarded to scam groups. It is judged that the fake prosecutor/police scam methods have undergone significant changes, evolving from deceiving victims' personal data through calls or video to conduct interviews, to recently manipulating citizens' mobile phone communication functions, intercepting all incoming calls, and breaking through financial defense lines.
Ms. Liu, an office worker in New Taipei City, received a call in January this year from criminals impersonating a hospital, falsely claiming that her identification documents had been misused and were involved in illegal withdrawal of controlled drugs. Subsequently, fake police and clerks contacted her via communication software, demanding her cooperation in an investigation and a video interview.
The police stated that Ms. Liu, the victim, was induced by the criminals' deceptive tactics to provide personal information, credit card information, online banking, and securities account passwords. The scam group also claimed that this was to verify capital flows.
The CIB stated that the related statements mentioned by the scam group are not normal investigative procedures but are designed to control the public's payment tools and prepare for unauthorized spending. The real key to this case lies in "call forwarding."
The police found that in this case, the scam group instructed the victim to operate her mobile phone and enter "**21*" followed by a designated number. After completing the call forwarding setting, all incoming calls to the victim were forwarded to the phone controlled by the scam group.
The police stated that after successfully controlling the victim's communications and other data, the scam group illegally used credit cards from multiple banks for 19 transactions within two days, totaling over NT$2.6 million. The victim's securities account was also used to sell holdings and cash out approximately NT$1.05 million, with total financial losses exceeding NT$3.66 million.
The police emphasized that the fake prosecutor/police scam has upgraded from deceiving data and remittances to a complex crime involving buying new mobile phones, downloading unknown apps, binding credit cards, setting up call forwarding, and taking over financial verification.
The CIB urges the public that if they receive a call and are asked to download unknown apps, bind credit cards, or enter "**21*" to set up call forwarding, they should immediately stop the operation and heighten vigilance. They should also never provide sensitive information such as credit card, online banking, or securities account passwords. If suspicious circumstances are encountered, call the 165 hotline or visit the "165 Anti-Fraud Dashboard" website. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150509
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 grasp the latest news instantly.
Unauthorized reproduction, public broadcasting, public transmission, or use of the text, images, and videos on this website is prohibited.