Taiwan Sees a Surge in Scam Cases: LINE Launches New Warning Features to Combat Scams
In 2023, Taiwan witnessed a significant rise in scam cases, with over 35,000 incidents reported by the end of November, involving a total of NT$7.9 billion, a historic high. In response to the escalating scam issues, LINE has recently rolled out an update to version 14.9.0, introducing a new "Warning Label" feature aimed at helping users stay alert and avoid potential scam activities.
Introducing Three New Warning Scenarios to Enhance User Anti-Scam Awareness
In the latest LINE 14.9.0 update, users will receive clear warning messages in the following scenarios:
In addition to 1-on-1 chats, group chats will also feature scam prevention warnings. （Image sourced from the internet）
1-on-1 and Group Chats Previously, users did not receive specific warnings when receiving 1-on-1 messages from unknown contacts; and when invited to group chats, they were merely advised to report or block the sender. With this update, all messages from unknown contacts and group chat invitations will come with warnings in a white box and bold text, alerting users to potential scam risks.
Personal Profile Warning When viewing the profile of a stranger who is not a friend, LINE will now display a warning below the profile, advising users to remain cautious and avoid sharing personal information or engaging in financial transactions with unknown individuals.
LINE Community Alerts LINE communities allow users to interact and share information anonymously with like-minded individuals. To further protect users, a warning will appear at the bottom of the screen when joining new LINE communities, reminding users to handle messages from strangers with caution.
Enhancing User Protection Against Scams
As scam techniques become increasingly sophisticated, recognizing and preventing scams is more important than ever. LINE’s latest update introduces warnings across multiple use scenarios to help users better identify potential scam messages and activities, thereby protecting their assets and personal safety.
LINE’s initiative not only strengthens user security but also reflects its commitment to social responsibility. With technological advancements, LINE will continue to improve its anti-scam measures on the platform, ensuring that users can communicate and interact in a safer digital environment.
Clicking on the warning will redirect the screen to the official LINE blog page on "Anti-Phishing Campaign," helping users understand various types of online phishing scams. （Image sourced from the internet）
For users who are about to or have already updated to version 14.9.0, LINE encourages familiarization with the new warning features and maintaining vigilance during daily use to avoid falling into scam traps.
LINE hopes that these new features will help users increase their awareness of scams and take measures to protect themselves. Here are some summarized tips from LINE to prevent scams:
- Do not click on suspicious links or attachments.
- Do not disclose personal information to strangers.
- Do not send money or make transfers online.
