Military 'Scalpers' Indicted for Using Colleagues' Data to Make NT$20M in Ticket Profits

(CNA, Taoyuan, by reporter Yeh Chen, 20th) A pair of brothers in the military, surnamed Chou, are suspected of stealing personal data from their colleagues and collaborating with their youngest, non-military brother to scalp tickets for concerts and sports events, reselling them at a markup. Their illicit gains reached over NT$20.43 million. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office has concluded its investigation, indicted the suspects, and requested the confiscation of the criminal proceeds. According to the Taoyuan prosecutors' investigation, the three brothers are aged 38, 36, and 35. The two older brothers are career soldiers, serving as a Sergeant Major and a Staff Sergeant in their respective units. The investigation revealed that the two older Chou brothers, due to their military positions, obtained the personal data of over 20 non-commissioned officers and soldiers. They used this data to register accounts on the TIXCRAFT ticketing system, operated by tixCraft Inc. The youngest brother then used an 'ID card generator' program to create fake ID numbers and used other people's data to register additional TIXCRAFT accounts. Prosecutors found that from January to May of this year, the three Chou brothers first solicited buyers on Facebook. After receiving advance payments, they used accounts registered with stolen or forged personal data to log into the ticketing system. They then used a bot program to purchase tickets online for artist performances, sports events like the WBSC Premier12, and other activities, which they then resold to clients. This affected 196 events, with a total of 1,450 tickets being scalped. On February 12, prosecutors directed a search of the three brothers' residences, arresting the trio and 16 victims. After questioning, the court approved the detention of the two older brothers, while the youngest was released on NT$50,000 bail. Authorities also seized assets totaling over NT$20.79 million, including mobile phones, computers, over NT$6.84 million in cash and deposits, real estate, stocks, and 36 tickets to a G.E.M. world tour concert. The prosecutors recently concluded their investigation, finding the three brothers suspected of crimes including the use of forged quasi-private documents under the Criminal Code, purchasing arts and cultural performance tickets with false data or by other illicit means using computer equipment under the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Act, and purchasing sports event tickets under similar illicit terms via the Sports Industry Development Act. Prosecutors stated that the two older Chou brothers are also suspected of violating the Code of Obligations for Land, Sea, and Air Forces, illegally profiting from their official duties under the Anti-Corruption Act, and illegally using personal data by a public official leveraging their official capacity under the Personal Data Protection Act. The youngest brother is separately suspected of illegally using personal data by a non-governmental agency under the Personal Data Protection Act, and has been publicly prosecuted. Prosecutors noted that considering the three brothers illegally obtained and resold a total of 1,450 tickets, the circumstances of the crime are not minor and the criminal profits are substantial.