TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Digital Affairs on Tuesday introduced a new verification system for government Line accounts to prevent scammers from impersonating officials.

The program adds a “blue shield badge” to certified accounts and will be piloted in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, and Tainan before expanding nationwide next year, per CNA.

MODA Deputy Minister Lin I-ching (林宜敬) and Department of Digital Service Director-General Wang Cheng-ming (王誠明) presented the system at a press conference, stressing its importance in protecting vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, from scams.

Lin noted that fraudsters often pose as social workers on Line to exploit citizens’ trust. The badge is designed to help users distinguish authentic accounts from impersonators.

Wang cited past cases where scammers used photos and names of mayors, district chiefs, or village heads to create fake Line groups for loan fraud. In one city, 310 fake government accounts were reported, with about 23% confirmed fraudulent, many related to health, police, or social welfare.

With the new system, users can verify accounts by checking the blue shield badge along with the official’s agency, position, and name. Accounts with a gray shield or without a badge should be treated with caution.