TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan saw over NT$1.7 billion (US$56 million) lost to scams last week, with nearly 3,000 cases reported, according to National Police Agency data.

From Sept. 21 to 27, losses reached NT$1.75 billion across 2,987 cases. The highest number of incidents occurred on Sept. 22, with 482 cases, while the costliest day was Sept. 26, when losses hit NT$360 million, according to CTEE.

Online shopping fraud was the most common, with 90 to 128 cases daily. These scams caused daily losses of NT$6 million to NT$10.6 million.

One of the most recent methods targets sellers on platforms like Facebook groups, Line communities, or other non-official channels. Scammers pretend to be buyers and claim their payment failed or their account was frozen, asking the seller to contact “customer service,” which is also fake, according to Shopline.

Sellers are pressured to provide sensitive information, such as bank account numbers, passwords, and OTP codes, sometimes under the pretense of small verification fees. Once the information is provided, the money is stolen, and the fake buyer and the service vanish.

Individuals are advised to end any conversation immediately if such requests arise and report suspicious activity to group or community administrators to prevent further losses.

Investment scams were the second most frequent, averaging 29 to 67 cases daily. Each case often involved huge sums, with losses reaching NT$138 million on Sept. 23 alone.

Authorities urged the public to be cautious online. They recommended using trusted platforms, verifying travel agency contacts, and avoiding transfers to unknown accounts.