Japanese Fan Scammed While Buying Pili Puppets in Taiwan; Police Apprehend Suspect
A Japanese Pili puppet show fan was defrauded in Taiwan after purchasing what were believed to be limited-edition puppets and accessories for NT$68,000, only to discover they were fakes. Police have since apprehended the suspect and referred the case for prosecution on charges including fraud and copyright infringement, urging public caution against online scams.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 14:11
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 14:31 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 15:54 (1h 22m after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA) — Pingtung County, May 12 — A Japanese Pili puppet show fan, who saw a social media sales message, was scammed after purchasing what was claimed to be a limited-edition Pili puppet and related accessories for NT$68,000 during a trip to Taiwan in April, only to discover they were not genuine. The police recently apprehended the suspect and referred them for prosecution.
Hengchun Precinct of the Pingtung County Police Bureau stated today that a Japanese fan, due to their love for Taiwanese Potehi culture, contacted a seller via Facebook. In April, they came to Taiwan for an in-person transaction, spending NT$58,000 to purchase the puppet "Qingyangzi" and NT$10,000 for the puppet's weapon "Divine Dragon Slayer Blade." Upon returning to Japan, they discovered these were counterfeit products and reported it to Pili International Multimedia.
Hengchun Precinct stated that after receiving the information, the police attached great importance to the case, believing it not only infringed on intellectual property rights but also severely damaged Taiwan's cultural and creative industry's international image. A special task force was immediately established to investigate. On May 7, they traveled north to Tainan City, assisting the victim and the suspect in arranging an in-person refund, and deployed personnel to stake out the scene. Undercover officers, seeing the timing was ripe, immediately moved in and apprehended the suspect, seizing unauthorized Pili puppets and related evidence on the spot.
Police investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly used online platforms to post product photos, attracting buyers with phrases like "genuine collection" and "company goods," but actually delivering unauthorized counterfeit products. In addition to suspected violations of the Copyright Law, the suspect is also involved in criminal fraud. The case has been referred for investigation on charges of violating the Copyright Law and fraud, and the police continue to trace the source of manufacturing and sales channels for the counterfeit goods.
Hengchun Precinct Chief Kuo Huai-tse reminded the public that online shopping fraud cases have been rampant in recent years. Fraud groups often use lures such as "popular collectibles," "free緣分," "limited edition products," or "celebrity merchandise" to attract buyers through social media platforms, auction websites, or communication software. They gain trust by saying things like "limited quantity," "special price," or "private transactions are cheaper." Pili puppet fans are urged to only purchase through the official Pili International Multimedia online store or other officially authorized channels, and not to easily trust online sellers from unknown sources. (Edited by Chang Ya-ching) 1150512
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Hengchun Precinct of the Pingtung County Police Bureau stated today that a Japanese fan, due to their love for Taiwanese Potehi culture, contacted a seller via Facebook. In April, they came to Taiwan for an in-person transaction, spending NT$58,000 to purchase the puppet "Qingyangzi" and NT$10,000 for the puppet's weapon "Divine Dragon Slayer Blade." Upon returning to Japan, they discovered these were counterfeit products and reported it to Pili International Multimedia.
Hengchun Precinct stated that after receiving the information, the police attached great importance to the case, believing it not only infringed on intellectual property rights but also severely damaged Taiwan's cultural and creative industry's international image. A special task force was immediately established to investigate. On May 7, they traveled north to Tainan City, assisting the victim and the suspect in arranging an in-person refund, and deployed personnel to stake out the scene. Undercover officers, seeing the timing was ripe, immediately moved in and apprehended the suspect, seizing unauthorized Pili puppets and related evidence on the spot.
Police investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly used online platforms to post product photos, attracting buyers with phrases like "genuine collection" and "company goods," but actually delivering unauthorized counterfeit products. In addition to suspected violations of the Copyright Law, the suspect is also involved in criminal fraud. The case has been referred for investigation on charges of violating the Copyright Law and fraud, and the police continue to trace the source of manufacturing and sales channels for the counterfeit goods.
Hengchun Precinct Chief Kuo Huai-tse reminded the public that online shopping fraud cases have been rampant in recent years. Fraud groups often use lures such as "popular collectibles," "free緣分," "limited edition products," or "celebrity merchandise" to attract buyers through social media platforms, auction websites, or communication software. They gain trust by saying things like "limited quantity," "special price," or "private transactions are cheaper." Pili puppet fans are urged to only purchase through the official Pili International Multimedia online store or other officially authorized channels, and not to easily trust online sellers from unknown sources. (Edited by Chang Ya-ching) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "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.