Fraud ring targeting Chinese women in North America busted, 9 arrested

Taichung, June 4 (CNA) Taiwanese authorities recently dismantled a fraud ring accused of running investment scams from Taiwan targeting Chinese women in the United States and Canada, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the CIB said nine individuals suspected of fraud, aggravated fraud, money laundering and organized crime have been arrested, and seven of them are being detained.

Members of the fraud ring chatted with their victims on the internet and used Deepfake technology during video calls to gain the victims' trust, and eventually persuaded them to invest in fake energy schemes, according to the CIB.

To date, seven victims have been identified, with their losses totaling NT$3.5 million (US$116,600), the CIB said, noting that law enforcement authorities in the U.S. and Canada have been contacted for assistance in the ongoing investigation.

Taiwanese authorities first raided the scam ring's computer room and arrested six people in Taichung's Shalu District in November 2024, the statement said.

During the raid, the suspects disposed of some of their mobile phones in a bucket of sulfuric acid prepared in advance to destroy evidence, the CIB said.

In March 2025, two more suspects -- the web developer for the fake investment website and the engineer responsible for website design -- were tracked down and arrested, the statement said.

The main sponsor of the fraud syndicate was arrested at Taipei Songshan Airport as he was trying to flee abroad in the beginning of May, the CIB said.

A total of NT$73,000 in cash has been seized, as well as evidence including laptops, mobile phones and voice changers, the CIB said.