AI Voice-Altering Romance Scam: Taipei Prosecutors Request Detention for Couple and 4 Others
Taipei prosecutors have requested the detention of a couple and two others, totaling four individuals, after busting a romance scam group that used AI voice-altering technology on various dating platforms to trick victims into sending expensive gifts. 14 other individuals were bailed with restrictions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 23:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 23:32 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 02:41 (3h 9m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei, May 13) A couple surnamed Huang is suspected of forming a romance fraud group that used AI voice-altering technology to deceive people on various dating platforms, demanding high-value items from victims. Taipei prosecutors today apprehended multiple individuals, and after questioning, requested the detention of the Huang couple and two others, totaling four individuals. The remaining 14 individuals were bailed and placed under border control.
After questioning, Taipei District Prosecutors believed that the Huang couple (the man surnamed Huang and the woman surnamed Xu), a manager of public relations agents surnamed Jiang, and a public relations agent surnamed Huang, totaling four individuals, were heavily involved. They applied to the Taipei District Court for their detention. The remaining 14 defendants were bailed for amounts ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$200,000, with restrictions on residence and prohibitions on leaving the country or going to sea.
The police and prosecutors' investigation revealed that the romance fraud group had a meticulous division of labor, separated into customer acquisition, repeat customer handling, and public relations teams. Ms. Xu, Mr. Huang's wife, was responsible for money laundering. The customer acquisition team sought targets through various dating apps and used photo editing software to package their public relations agents as attractive women. Once victims were ensnared, the repeat customer handling team would take over the chatting.
Police and prosecutors discovered that the group also used AI voice-altering software to transform the voices of male employees into those of female public relations agents. They used attractive online images as avatars to engage in fake online relationships with victims, then solicited high-value items such as mobile phones, Dyson hair dryers, gold, or beauty treatment courses under pretexts like family medical expenses or company sales targets. Their illicit gains exceeded several million NTD.
Police and prosecutors tracked down that after victims transferred money for purchases, the public relations agents would send "gifts" online. Once a certain amount was accumulated, the group would arrange for public relations agents to meet victims in person.
Preliminary investigations by police and prosecutors found that the group had 5 public relations agents, operating on a base salary plus commission system, with commissions based on received gifts and cash. Their average monthly salary exceeded NT$100,000. Victims, realizing there was no interaction without sending gifts, became suspicious and reported to the police. Currently, 10 victims have filed reports.
On the 12th, Taipei prosecutors directed the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Zhongshan Precinct of the Taipei City Police Department to launch 23 simultaneous raids on the group's operations room, the residences of the Huang couple, relevant public relations agents, group executives, and other locations. They apprehended the Huang couple and multiple other individuals. After police questioning, they were successively transferred to the Taipei Prosecutors Office today for further questioning. The entire case is being investigated as fraud for profit. (Edited by Chen Ching-fang) 1150513
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(Central News Agency reporter Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei, May 13) A couple surnamed Huang is suspected of forming a romance fraud group that used AI voice-altering technology to deceive people on various dating platforms, demanding high-value items from victims. Taipei prosecutors today apprehended multiple individuals, and after questioning, requested the detention of the Huang couple and two others, totaling four individuals. The remaining 14 individuals were bailed and placed under border control.
After questioning, Taipei District Prosecutors believed that the Huang couple (the man surnamed Huang and the woman surnamed Xu), a manager of public relations agents surnamed Jiang, and a public relations agent surnamed Huang, totaling four individuals, were heavily involved. They applied to the Taipei District Court for their detention. The remaining 14 defendants were bailed for amounts ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$200,000, with restrictions on residence and prohibitions on leaving the country or going to sea.
The police and prosecutors' investigation revealed that the romance fraud group had a meticulous division of labor, separated into customer acquisition, repeat customer handling, and public relations teams. Ms. Xu, Mr. Huang's wife, was responsible for money laundering. The customer acquisition team sought targets through various dating apps and used photo editing software to package their public relations agents as attractive women. Once victims were ensnared, the repeat customer handling team would take over the chatting.
Police and prosecutors discovered that the group also used AI voice-altering software to transform the voices of male employees into those of female public relations agents. They used attractive online images as avatars to engage in fake online relationships with victims, then solicited high-value items such as mobile phones, Dyson hair dryers, gold, or beauty treatment courses under pretexts like family medical expenses or company sales targets. Their illicit gains exceeded several million NTD.
Police and prosecutors tracked down that after victims transferred money for purchases, the public relations agents would send "gifts" online. Once a certain amount was accumulated, the group would arrange for public relations agents to meet victims in person.
Preliminary investigations by police and prosecutors found that the group had 5 public relations agents, operating on a base salary plus commission system, with commissions based on received gifts and cash. Their average monthly salary exceeded NT$100,000. Victims, realizing there was no interaction without sending gifts, became suspicious and reported to the police. Currently, 10 victims have filed reports.
On the 12th, Taipei prosecutors directed the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Zhongshan Precinct of the Taipei City Police Department to launch 23 simultaneous raids on the group's operations room, the residences of the Huang couple, relevant public relations agents, group executives, and other locations. They apprehended the Huang couple and multiple other individuals. After police questioning, they were successively transferred to the Taipei Prosecutors Office today for further questioning. The entire case is being investigated as fraud for profit. (Edited by Chen Ching-fang) 1150513
Standing with the facts, every sponsorship helps 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, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.