Claiming Your NT$10,000 Stimulus on Someone’s Behalf? It’s a Scam

Since November 24, the NT$10,000 cash handout has been gradually made available for in-person collection at post office counters. A new wave of scams has emerged in which fraudsters impersonate post office staff and falsely claim that a recipient's NT$10,000 has already been fraudulently collected, or that someone has attempted to collect it on their behalf. Pretending to "help" the victim file a report, the scammers then arrange for another accomplice-posing as a police officer, prosecutor, or other government official-to call the victim. These impostors accuse the victim of being involved in fraud, money laundering, or other criminal cases, exploiting their fear and desire for assistance. They then claim they can "help handle the NT$10,000 stimulus case," instruct the victim to withdraw their savings for supposed verification, and disappear once the money is handed over, leaving the victim helpless.

In one case in southern Taiwan, a woman surnamed C received a call on August 19 from someone claiming to be Li Guan-yi, the "director" of Taichung Yingcai Post Office. The caller asked whether she had authorized a person named Chiang Yu-hua to collect the NT$10,000 on her behalf. When the victim said she had not, the caller said he would file a report for her. Shortly afterward, someone using the LINE display name "Taichung Officer Chen" contacted her, claiming to be a police officer and alleging that she might be involved in fraud and violations of the Money Laundering Control Act. He said the case would be handed over to a "Prosecutor Lin Hong-song," also contacting via LINE.

A person claiming to be this prosecutor later called and demanded to review all bank accounts under her name. He then instructed her to hand over her bank account card and passbook to an "official" supposedly dispatched from the district prosecutor's office for inspection. As a result, NT$620,000 was withdrawn from her account. The victim was left unable to cover basic living expenses and borrowed money from a friend-who then informed her that she had been scammed. She subsequently reported the case to the police.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau urges the public not to trust any phone calls or text messages related to the NT$10,000 stimulus payment. Ignore any claims involving helping you collect the money, "verifying" the amount, or "protecting" your funds. Instead, call 165 to verify suspicious calls. For official information on how to collect the NT$10,000 payment, visit the official website 10000.gov.tw or call the 1988 hotline.