"Even Mazu's Money is Dared to Be Cheated" Taichung Man Defrauds 40 People with Fake Baishatun Registration Proxy
A man in Taichung, Taiwan, was arrested for defrauding 40 people by pretending to offer proxy registration services for the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage. He pocketed registration fees and service charges, amounting to approximately NT$34,000.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 16:36
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 17:02 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 17:45 (43 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Li-hsin, Taipei, 11th) The Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage attracted 460,000 registrants this year, but a 50-year-old man surnamed Chen from Taichung posted online claiming he could assist with proxy registration. He was actually using this as an opportunity to defraud people of their money. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) received reports and identified 40 victims, sending Chen to the prosecutor's office on fraud charges.
The CIB held a press conference today to announce the case. Deputy Captain Li Qi-xun of the Ninth Investigation Team stated that in March, they received a report from a citizen who wanted to participate in the Baishatun Gongtian Temple Mazu Pilgrimage on foot to Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin. The citizen saw an online post from a "kind person" claiming to help people from other counties and cities with proxy registration, but after paying the fees, it turned out to be a scam.
In addition, other victims reported similar intelligence to the 165 Anti-Fraud System Platform. The CIB immediately formed a special investigation team with the Qingshui Precinct of the Taichung City Police Bureau and reported to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office for investigation.
The special investigation team identified Chen, a blue-collar worker living in Taichung, as a major suspect. He had a record of fraud and theft and had committed similar offenses in 2023. As participants for the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage must register in person, and knowing that many people found it inconvenient to travel, Chen posted in Facebook groups claiming to offer proxy registration for the pilgrimage.
It is initially estimated that Chen received proxy registration requests from over 100 people. In addition to the NT$700 registration fee, he also charged a NT$150 service fee. The first 70 people successfully registered, but the subsequent 40 people were not registered, and their funds were embezzled by Chen, resulting in a total loss of approximately NT$34,000.
A pilgrim told the police that with this type of scam, not only did they lose their registration fee and this year's exclusive pilgrimage clothing and accessories, but what they cared about most was losing the opportunity to have their prayers read by the temple officials and receive Mazu's blessings after successful registration. Missing it means waiting another year, leading them to angrily exclaim, "He even dares to cheat Mazu's money!" and hoping the police would uphold justice.
After completing the investigation, the special investigation team, seeing the opportune moment, executed a search and arrest warrant at Chen's residence in Taichung on April 21. They seized the mobile phone used for the crime, Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage items (jackets, hats, armbands, towels), registration forms, and commemorative items as evidence.
Chen confessed to the crime after being apprehended, stating that the defrauded money was used for medical expenses. After questioning, the case was transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office for investigation on charges of fraud under the Criminal Code. Chen was released on NT$30,000 bail.
There was an unexpected interlude during the press conference: while the police inside were explaining the details of solving the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage fraud case, the parade of the Taipei City Songshan Ciyou Temple (formerly known as Xikou Mazu Temple) through its thirteen villages happened to pass by on the road outside, a surprising coincidence that astonished those present.
The CIB urges the public that Mazu pilgrimage events are frequent recently, and in this era of developed online communities, if unidentified individuals offer low-cost proxy registrations online, it could be a scam. The public should prioritize official temple registration channels. If suspected fraudulent proxy registration channels are found, call the National Police Agency's 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline for verification. (Editor: Chen Ren-hua) 1150511
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(Central News Agency reporter Huang Li-hsin, Taipei, 11th) The Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage attracted 460,000 registrants this year, but a 50-year-old man surnamed Chen from Taichung posted online claiming he could assist with proxy registration. He was actually using this as an opportunity to defraud people of their money. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) received reports and identified 40 victims, sending Chen to the prosecutor's office on fraud charges.
The CIB held a press conference today to announce the case. Deputy Captain Li Qi-xun of the Ninth Investigation Team stated that in March, they received a report from a citizen who wanted to participate in the Baishatun Gongtian Temple Mazu Pilgrimage on foot to Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin. The citizen saw an online post from a "kind person" claiming to help people from other counties and cities with proxy registration, but after paying the fees, it turned out to be a scam.
In addition, other victims reported similar intelligence to the 165 Anti-Fraud System Platform. The CIB immediately formed a special investigation team with the Qingshui Precinct of the Taichung City Police Bureau and reported to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office for investigation.
The special investigation team identified Chen, a blue-collar worker living in Taichung, as a major suspect. He had a record of fraud and theft and had committed similar offenses in 2023. As participants for the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage must register in person, and knowing that many people found it inconvenient to travel, Chen posted in Facebook groups claiming to offer proxy registration for the pilgrimage.
It is initially estimated that Chen received proxy registration requests from over 100 people. In addition to the NT$700 registration fee, he also charged a NT$150 service fee. The first 70 people successfully registered, but the subsequent 40 people were not registered, and their funds were embezzled by Chen, resulting in a total loss of approximately NT$34,000.
A pilgrim told the police that with this type of scam, not only did they lose their registration fee and this year's exclusive pilgrimage clothing and accessories, but what they cared about most was losing the opportunity to have their prayers read by the temple officials and receive Mazu's blessings after successful registration. Missing it means waiting another year, leading them to angrily exclaim, "He even dares to cheat Mazu's money!" and hoping the police would uphold justice.
After completing the investigation, the special investigation team, seeing the opportune moment, executed a search and arrest warrant at Chen's residence in Taichung on April 21. They seized the mobile phone used for the crime, Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage items (jackets, hats, armbands, towels), registration forms, and commemorative items as evidence.
Chen confessed to the crime after being apprehended, stating that the defrauded money was used for medical expenses. After questioning, the case was transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office for investigation on charges of fraud under the Criminal Code. Chen was released on NT$30,000 bail.
There was an unexpected interlude during the press conference: while the police inside were explaining the details of solving the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage fraud case, the parade of the Taipei City Songshan Ciyou Temple (formerly known as Xikou Mazu Temple) through its thirteen villages happened to pass by on the road outside, a surprising coincidence that astonished those present.
The CIB urges the public that Mazu pilgrimage events are frequent recently, and in this era of developed online communities, if unidentified individuals offer low-cost proxy registrations online, it could be a scam. The public should prioritize official temple registration channels. If suspected fraudulent proxy registration channels are found, call the National Police Agency's 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline for verification. (Editor: Chen Ren-hua) 1150511
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.