The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) has recently warned that fraud syndicates are using dating apps to build trust with victims before luring them into financial traps through shopping rebates and investment incentives. In one reported case, a man in Kaohsiung met an acquaintance on a dating platform and later moved their conversations to a messaging app. The individual claimed to work for a well-known company and promoted a special corporate partnership discount, persuading the victim to download a designated shopping app.
After following the instructions and making purchases, the victim saw an apparent increase in account balances and was initially able to withdraw small amounts successfully, which further lowered his guard. The scammer then encouraged cryptocurrency top-ups by claiming higher rebate rates and repeatedly emphasized that “the more you deposit, the more you earn.” The victim subsequently purchased stablecoins through multiple cryptocurrency platforms and transferred them into the designated app, ultimately investing several million New Taiwan dollars.
When the victim later attempted to withdraw all funds and was unable to do so, he realized he had been defrauded. The CIB noted that such scams typically allow small withdrawals at first to establish trust before prompting victims to increase their investments and cutting off access to funds.
Police remind the public that offers guaranteeing profits, unusually high returns, requests to use cryptocurrency, or instructions to download unofficial platforms are highly likely to be scams. Anyone with doubts should call the 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline or contact local police for verification.
