TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei police arrested 16 people after a nearly year-long investigation into an alleged investment fraud ring that used charity-themed pitches, staged videos, and social media groups to collect more than NT$140 million (US$4.6 million) from victims.
New Taipei City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Corps said the group bought Facebook ads tied to pets, parenting, movies, travel, and charity before steering users into Line investment groups, per CNA.
Once inside the groups, victims were shown projects with names such as “Travel Dreams,” “Light of Hope Parent-Child Fund,” “Parenting Planet,” and “Home of Arts and Learning.” Police said the schemes were promoted as low-risk investments with a large upside.
Investigators said the group also staged promotional videos in which hired extras posed as successful investors, according to the report. Other members allegedly pretended to be directors or production staff to make the operation look more professional.
Police said the ring had a clear division of labor. One unit handled scripts and communications, another supplied SIM cards, while others handled callers or picked up cash.
The group also donated some of the stolen money to real charities, police said. Donation certificates were allegedly forwarded to overseas scam centers and reused as social media material to make the investment groups appear trustworthy, per the report.
Police searched locations and made arrests between June 2025 and March 2026. They seized electronic devices as well as fake investment and charity documents, in addition to counterfeit funds and cash.
The case was sent to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on suspicion of organized crime, aggravated fraud, and money laundering.
Police urged the public to avoid online investment offers promising guaranteed profits or unusually high returns, and to call the 165 anti-fraud hotline or 110 if they suspect a scam.
