Tax Season: Fraudsters Impersonate Ministry of Interior; Criminal Investigation Bureau Urges 'Three Don'ts, One Verification'

(Taipei, May 13, Central News Agency reporter Huang Li-yun) During the May tax season, the Criminal Investigation Bureau announced today that scam groups are impersonating the Ministry of Interior or certificate management centers by sending phishing emails to lure people into clicking malicious links. The public is reminded to adhere to the anti-fraud principle of 'Three Don'ts, One Verification,' which includes 'not clicking unknown links.'

The National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Bureau issued a press release this afternoon stating that people often use Citizen Digital Certificates for income tax declarations, online inquiries, and various government services during the May tax season, which scam groups are exploiting. Some citizens have recently received emails impersonating the Ministry of Interior, claiming they "must log in or update with their Citizen Digital Certificate within 48 hours, otherwise it may affect tax declarations or related online services."

The Criminal Investigation Bureau noted that the scam emails are highly realistic in appearance and combine keywords such as government agencies, tax season, and Citizen Digital Certificate, making it easy for the public to mistake them for official notices.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Interior has issued an anti-fraud announcement, reminding the public that there have been recent instances of impersonating the Ministry of Interior Certificate Management Center, using fake websites and emails to induce people to download or update "HiCOS Client Card Management Tools," thereby tricking them into clicking links. The public is urged to be highly vigilant.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau mentioned that the danger of these tactics lies in the fact that scam groups are not merely casting a wide net but precisely targeting the public's usage scenarios during tax season. They combine elements such as "government agency name," "Citizen Digital Certificate," "time pressure," and "system security updates," leading people to lower their guard and click unknown links or download unknown files due to anxiety, urgency, and fear of affecting their rights.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau stated that once people follow the instructions in the email, it could lead to the leakage of certificate data, personal information, and computer device information, and even subsequent risks of identity theft for financial accounts or becoming targets for secondary scams.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau explained that unlike general website member accounts, Citizen Digital Certificates involve identity verification and the use of various government online services, including tax declarations, labor and health insurance data inquiries, and online government applications. If people enter certificate-related information on a fake website or download unknown programs as instructed, it could not only lead to personal data leakage but also provide material for scam groups to conduct targeted scams in the future.

Therefore, people should be highly suspicious of any emails that demand "immediate updates," "timed logins," "downloading specified programs," or "entering certificate information."

The Criminal Investigation Bureau reminded that government agencies will not "ask the public to click links, download unknown files, or enter Citizen Digital Certificate information within a time limit via unknown emails." The Ministry of Finance's Fiscal Information Agency also previously issued an anti-fraud announcement, reminding the public that the tax portal will not ask for credit card information via web pages or email links. If similar messages are received, the public should be highly vigilant and call the 165 anti-fraud hotline for verification.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau urges that during tax season, if people receive emails or text messages involving "tax refunds," "tax payments," "Citizen Digital Certificate updates," "account security verification," or "failure to update will affect tax declarations," they must adhere to the "Three Don'ts, One Verification" principle: do not click strange links, do not download unknown files, do not enter certificate and personal information, and verify official sources before taking action. (Edited by Wu Su-rou) 1150513