“Scammers are getting desperate—now even NT$30,000 is being targeted!” A 46-year-old woman surnamed Fang from Taichung City recently went to the Wenxin Branch of Union Bank, intending to withdraw and transfer NT$30,000 to her “boyfriend” residing in Singapore. Observant bank staff found her request suspicious and suspected that Ms. Fang might be the target of an online romance scam. They immediately alerted the police, who arrived promptly and successfully prevented a financial loss. Officers Li Can-hong, Lu Ze-xian, and Luan Quan-zhen of Liren Police Station, Second Precinct, Taichung City Police Department, responded swiftly to the report at noon on November 11, 2025, and arrived at the scene to assess the situation.
Ms. Fang said that she met this “Singaporean boyfriend” through a dating app. Although they had only been chatting for one or two months, they quickly fell in love. Despite never having met in person or engaged in video calls, her counterpart recently requested a transfer of NT$30,000 under the pretext of “living expenses.” Upon hearing this, the police immediately cited multiple similar cases, explaining that scam groups often impersonate foreigners and use sweet talk to gain trust, then request financial assistance under various pretenses. After the officers patiently advised and explained the situation, Ms. Fang realized that she might have been caught in a “fake love, real scam” scheme. She promptly abandoned the plan to transfer the money, successfully safeguarding her hard-earned NT$30,000.
Director Chung Cheng-Chih of the Second Precinct emphasized that caution and verification are essential when engaging in online dating. If someone repeatedly requests financial assistance or transfers, you should remain highly vigilant. You can verify such requests by calling the 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline or seeking assistance from the police. He also expressed gratitude to the bank staff for their attentiveness and vigilance, which successfully prevented the scam and protected both the public’s money and trust.