一、

Investigating Departments:
Taiwan New Taipei District Prosecutors Office, International Criminal Affairs Division of Criminal Investigation Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations Taipei, New Taipei City Police Department- Yonghe Precinct, Taipei City Police Department - Criminal Investigation Division

二、

Time of Seizure: January 2nd, 2025, April 22th, 2025, May 21th, 2025

三、

Location of Seizure: Taipei City, New Taipei City

四、

Suspects: Nine suspects including suspect Wu (male, born 1974)-financier of the high-tech company, suspect Huang (male, born 1979 ) -owner of the high-tech company, suspect Liang(male, born 1980)- high-tech system integrator, suspect Chang (male, born 1986) – website engineer, suspect Zhong (male, born 1984), suspect Chen (female, born 1989), suspect Lin (male, born 1977), suspect Chen (male, born 1993), suspect Hsu (male, born 1988)-accountant.

五、

Stolen Property and Evidence: Searched and seized 3 sets of desktop computers, 36 mobile phones, 10 laptops, 1 TabletPC, NTD1.18 million in cash, 2.16 PCs of Bitcoin (worth approximately NTD7.43 million), 33,525 Tether (USDT) (worth approximately NTD1,005,750).

六、

Case Summary:

(一)

The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) cracked the location of a computer room in one community building in the Tucheng District of New Taipei City in April 2024. This computer room set up websites of fake investment platforms, named “TIFFIN,” “arbutuse.com,” and “FORTRESS,” to lure the public with investment. The task force expanded the investigation through 165 Anti-fraud Hotline and discovered that the aforementioned platforms subscribed to website domains from U.S. Domain Company. The CIB then requested Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for collaboration in the investigation.

(二)

HSI helped to retrieve the registration information and IP login records in addition to integrating analysis on Cryptocurrency flow. Investigation showed that one tech company and one creative limited company were the sources of technical support for the fraud platforms. The financier, suspect Wu, contributed capital and established the company, with suspect Huang, who had a technical background, serving as its legal representative. In addition, system integrator Liang was in charge of undertaking the website production and requirements for scam computer rooms in Cambodia and in Taiwan. Engineers Chang, Zhong, Chen, Lin, and Chen were instructed by the owner to divide the labor and develop massive fraud websites. In 2024, a total of 700 fraud websites were established, drawing approximately 300 Taiwanese into scams, with an estimated NTD100 million in fraud.

(三)

The task force executed three search actions in January, April and May 2025, investigating and apprehending financier Wu, owner Huang, system integrator Liang, and engineers Chang, Zhong, Chen, Lin, Chen, and company accountant Hsu. Moreover, the task force seized illicit proceeds of NTD1.18 million, 2.16 PCS of bitcoin (worth approximately NTD7.43 million), and 33,525 Tether (USDT) (worth approximately NTD1,005,750). In particular, financier Wu, system integrator Liang, and five engineers, including Chang, Zhong, and Chen, were ruled by Taiwan New Taipei District Court for detention and prohibition of communication and visitation.

七、

The Criminal Investigation Bureau continued to strengthen its technological investigation competence by integrating digital forensics and cryptocurrency flow tracing technology, proactively investigating various fraud-related crimes, protecting the property safety of the public, and eradicating any rampant criminal syndicates. The Criminal Investigation Bureau calls for personnel with technological professional skills not to establish fake investment platforms customized for fraud syndicates, code or provide technical support in the interest of money, or else they could engage in fraud-related crimes and be held criminally liable. Practitioners should be vigilant, refuse illegal commissions, and do not let their profession become a tool for crime. Moreover, in the midst of increasing rampant and highly cross-border fraud patterns, the Criminal Investigation Bureau will continue to develop an international collaboration mechanism and maintain close communication with law enforcement agencies of all countries, voluntarily exchange intelligence, share technological investigation resources, and combat against cross-border fraudulent industrial chains jointly, thereby comprehensively tracing the origins of offshore frauds and curbing the expansion and spread of criminal activities.