TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Criminal Investigation Bureau said Thursday it has suspended more than 73,000 abnormal Line accounts tied to fraud rings, dealing a major blow to investment scam networks.

Lin Chien-lung (林建隆), chief of CIB’s High-Tech Crime Center, said scammers often advertise fake stock or cryptocurrency investment tips on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, according to CNA. Once victims engage, they are lured into Line group chats posing as investment communities.

These groups are staffed with fraudsters posing as “mentors” or assistants, who work to gain victims’ trust and convince them to wire money. Lin said scam rings often run multiple groups simultaneously, using bots to post identical content and create a false sense of credibility.

A task force formed in February found that scammers routinely share fake market analyses and staged group photos to boost their legitimacy. Most fraudulent accounts were short-lived and disposable.

Authorities warned the public to be cautious of Line groups that suddenly disappear or contain users with missing names—common signs of scam operations. They urged people not to share personal information or transfer funds through such platforms.

Line confirmed the account suspensions were carried out under Article 33 of the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act. The company said it plans to strengthen its risk detection systems and will continue collaborating with government and industry partners to combat online fraud.