Meta warns of scams ahead of Taiwan's NT10,000 cash handout

Taipei, Oct. 31 (CNA) Meta on Thursday released a Facebook reel warning users about phishing scams disguised as official announcements related to Taiwan's upcoming NT$10,000 (US$323) cash handout program.

Created in collaboration with Taiwanese fact-checking organization MyGoPen, the short video urged people not to click on suspicious links, share personal data, mail ATM cards or financial documents, or forward unverified messages and social media posts.

The reel showed examples of text messages and emails linking to fake government websites that ask people to provide personal information to "register" or "collect" the handout before registration for it officially begins on Nov. 5.

The government will not use text messages or emails to issue announcements about the handout, nor will it request ATM transfers, the company said.

Meta also warned Thursday in a press release that scammers impersonating police officers may claim that someone has fraudulently collected a person's handout and ask that person for bank details, ATM cards, or passwords for investigative purposes.

After many months of political wrangling, Taiwan's government decided to distribute NT$10,000 to each citizen as well as foreign nationals who are permanent residents or spouses of Taiwanese citizens.

● Everything you need to know about how to get NT$10,000 cash handout

The policy has been touted as a way to inject vitality into the local economy that has seen strong AI-related export growth but otherwise stagnant economic activity and help consumers who have been hurt by rising prices and lackluster real wage growth.

MyGoPen founder Charles Yang (葉子揚) said in the press statement that many people were scammed during the government's 2021 stimulus voucher program that distributed vouchers worth NT$5,000.

This time, he said, fraudsters may use "more convincing and sophisticated methods" to exploit people's eagerness to claim the funds or their fear of losing them to identity thieves.

Official information about the NT$10,000 handout is available on the government's official website, where online registration will open beginning on Nov. 5.

People registering must enter a national health insurance card number, a national ID number, or residence permit number, and a bank account number. The funds should enter applicants' accounts starting about a week after registration, the government has said.

The NT$10,000 handout can also be collected without registering online, through ATMs starting on Nov. 17 and post offices starting on Nov. 24.

Aside from the latest Meta warning, the government has issued various warnings against fraud ahead of the handout's rollout.