TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau on Sunday released its list of the top 10 ATM withdrawal hotspots linked to fraud cases in the first half of 2025, along with data on peak activity times for money mules.
The bureau said fraud tactics continue to evolve, with scammers tricking victims into transferring money under false pretenses. The funds are then withdrawn in large sums by mules, leaving victims with little chance of recovering their savings.
Statistics show mule activity peaks around midnight and after 1 p.m. Offenders often wear masks, frequently switch bank cards, and spend about five to 10 minutes at a machine.
Withdrawal points are often located near highway interchanges, metro stations, or open areas in university districts, allowing quick arrivals and departures without drawing attention.
The 10 hotspots identified are:
- Neipu Xuefu Post Office, Pingtung
- Puzi Post Office, Chiayi
- Sanchong Zhengyi Post Office, New Taipei
- Taiwan Cooperative Bank Sanchong Branch, New Taipei
- First Commercial Bank Ximen Branch, Taipei
- Hukou Post Office, Hsinchu
- 7-Eleven Xining South Branch, Taipei
- Douliou Jhenbei Post Office, Yunlin
- Nanyang Post Office, Taipei
- Cathay Life Insurance Sanxia Haishan Branch, New Taipei
The bureau said the list reflects a wide geographic spread from south to north, indicating coordinated operations. While some banks have introduced measures such as warning messages, withdrawal limits, and facial recognition, the bureau noted Taiwan’s ATM fraud prevention capabilities remain limited, with few machines able to reliably identify mule behavior.
It reminded the public that under the Criminal Code and the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, anyone assisting in the withdrawal of scam proceeds is considered an accomplice and faces criminal liability. The bureau has published photos of wanted suspects on its website and urged anyone who recognizes them to call the 165 anti-fraud hotline.
