Taichung Police Foil NT$6.48 Million Fraud After Victims Fail to Provide Wedding Invitations, Renovation Contracts

(CNA, Taichung, May 21, by reporter Su Mu-chun) Taichung police recently received consecutive reports from banks about individuals attempting to withdraw large sums of cash, purportedly to buy gold for a relative's wedding or to pay for home renovations. However, they were unable to produce wedding invitations or renovation contracts, leading police to successfully intercept a total of NT$6.48 million and prevent fraud losses. The Sixth Precinct of the Taichung City Police Department stated today that its Yongfu Police Station had recently received multiple alerts from banks within its jurisdiction. The reports indicated that individuals wishing to withdraw large amounts of cash gave inconsistent reasons for the fund's use and were suspected of being scammed. Police immediately went to the scene to provide assistance and care. In one case, a 75-year-old woman, surnamed Lin, went to a bank to withdraw NT$480,000. She told the teller she was buying gold for her niece who was about to get married. When officers arrived and asked for a wedding invitation, reception details, or any related conversation records, Ms. Lin could not provide any information and was unwilling to let the police contact her family for confirmation. After officers shared examples of similar fraud cases, she was persuaded to cancel the withdrawal. In another case, a 79-year-old woman, surnamed Huang, attempted to withdraw NT$6 million in cash. Initially, she told the police it was for a "house renovation payment," but could not provide any specific details regarding a home purchase, renovation contract, or conversation records. She later changed her story, claiming it was to "repay a loan," with her statements being contradictory. Officers explained common fraud tactics to the woman and successfully persuaded her to stop the withdrawal. Police remind the public that fraud groups have recently been using pretexts such as "buying gold," "renovation payments," "investments," and "loan repayments" to induce people to withdraw cash or cancel fixed deposits. The public is urged to be highly vigilant during large financial transactions and to call the 165 anti-fraud hotline or 110 for verification if they have any doubts.