Receiving invoice or shopping notifications through email has become common, but scammers have recently begun sending fake emails claiming that recipients have won a cloud invoice prize. Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau warns that claiming invoice prizes does not require entering credit card information, and people should stay alert when receiving suspicious messages.

According to police, scammers impersonate e-commerce platforms and send emails informing recipients that their cloud invoice has won a prize. The email often includes a fake link resembling the official “E-Invoice Integration Service Platform” of the Ministry of Finance. Because the design looks very similar to official notifications, recipients may mistakenly believe the message is legitimate.

Once the link is clicked, users are redirected to a counterfeit website that asks them to enter personal information such as national ID number, carrier verification code, and credit card details.

After entering the information, the webpage requests an OTP verification code sent to the victim's phone. Many people believe this step is for identity verification when claiming the prize, but in reality the scammers are using the code to authorize a fraudulent credit card transaction. Once the OTP is entered, the criminals can immediately complete unauthorized charges.

In one case, an office worker received an email titled “Cloud Invoice Prize Notification.” The email looked similar to messages from a well-known e-commerce platform. She clicked the link, entered personal and credit card information, and later typed in the OTP code received on her phone. Within minutes, she received a bank alert showing a foreign credit card transaction of NT$36,977.

Police advise the public to verify invoice prizes only through official channels. Do not click unknown links in emails or provide personal or credit card information on suspicious websites. If a suspected scam occurs, people can call Taiwan's anti-fraud hotline 165 or report it to the police.