A Singaporean woman narrowly avoided losing NT$30,000 to a love scammer she met on a dating app during her solo trip to Taiwan. A vigilant convenience store employee suspected the scam and alerted the police, who convinced the woman to avoid falling for the scammer’s tricks. The Straits Times reported
A Singaporean woman who was traveling alone in Taiwan narrowly avoided losing NT$30,000 (S$1,260) to a love scammer she met on a dating app, thanks to the quick thinking of a convenience store employee, according to local police. The woman, identified as 24-year-old Zhao, a post-graduate student, had been in Taiwan for over a week when she connected with a man named Chen Chen on Tinder. The Tainan City Police Department reported that Zhao agreed to meet Chen Chen outside a FamilyMart convenience store in Tainan. However, when she arrived at the location, Chen Chen was nowhere to be found. Instead, Zhao received messages from him asking her to purchase NT$30,000 worth of Apple gift cards and send proof of the purchases.
Chen Chen identified himself as a host at a night entertainment venue and demanded that Zhao transfer NT$20,000 to him as a “meeting fee” if she wanted to see him. When Zhao hesitated, Chen Chen sent her a threatening and explicit video clip of a person with a deep abdominal stab wound, claiming it was taken a few days prior. This terrified Zhao and made her feel compelled to cooperate.
Fortunately, a vigilant convenience store employee noticed Zhao behaving nervously while attempting to buy gift cards and suspected she might be a scam victim. The employee promptly reported the situation to the police. Two Tainan police officers arrived at the scene and quickly recognized that it was a scam. However, they had to convince Zhao, who expressed concerns that the police might hand her over to the scammer. The officers reassured her that they were there to help and not extort her. They also assured her that the scammer was not in Tainan, but was taking advantage of her fear to deceive her.
The police have encountered similar scam strategies in the past, where victims are persuaded to buy gift cards. Fortunately, due to the intervention of the convenience store employee and the prompt action of the police, Zhao did not lose any money. The police spokesperson stated that they have instructed convenience stores to notify them if they notice any suspicious activity, such as individuals attempting to buy large amounts of gift cards. He also emphasized the importance of reporting scams swiftly, as there may still be a chance to freeze the transfer if it is reported immediately.
While online love scams are not uncommon in Taiwan, foreigners make up a minority of the victims. The police estimate that they account for fewer than 10% of all scam victims. To raise awareness and educate the public about the strategies used by online love scammers, the Tainan police collaborated with a local influencer named Zamy to create a video highlighting the known tactics of scammers. Additionally, travelers can call the “165” hotline specifically designated for reporting scams.
In conclusion, the quick thinking of a convenience store employee and the intervention of the Tainan police prevented a Singaporean woman from falling victim to a love scam while traveling in Taiwan. The police have taken steps to raise awareness about online love scams and encourage the public to report any suspicious activity promptly..