Taiwan Government Warns Foreign Workers of Year-End Scams During Shopping Season

Taiwan's Taipei City Government Labor Bureau warns foreign workers are vulnerable to scams during the year-end shopping season, particularly through online shopping, social media, and messaging apps. Language barriers and unfamiliarity with financial procedures make migrant workers easy targets. Employers are encouraged to share fraud prevention information and help workers verify suspicious messages.

Background and Characteristics

According to Wang Qiu-dong, Director of Taipei City Government Labor Bureau, foreign workers in Taiwan frequently use online shopping, social media, mobile payments, and banking services. However, when dealing with unfamiliar Chinese messages and financial transactions, language barriers and information gaps make it difficult to verify the authenticity of messages.

Scammers' Tactics

Fraud perpetrators intentionally create a sense of urgency and panic to prevent victims from making calm judgments. During year-end shopping seasons with abundant promotional campaigns, fraudulent messages are more likely to slip through undetected.

Warning Signs and How to Identify Scams

Messages with unfamiliar Chinese or unnatural phrasing
Urgent language demanding immediate action ("Verify now", etc.)
Requests for money or personal information
Links or QR codes from unknown sources
Campaign information received without verification from employers or trusted contacts

Prevention Tips

Employers' Role: Regularly share latest scam methods and fraud prevention information with workers to raise awareness
Suspicious Messages: Don't panic—consult with employers or trusted individuals before taking action
Verify Information Sources: Check official websites or apps directly; avoid clicking links in received messages
Language Support: Use specialized consultation services if language barriers exist

Reporting and Support Resources

165 National Anti-Fraud Hotline (165 Online Platform): Provided by the Ministry of Interior Police Administration with scam cases and prevention information
165 Anti-Fraud Consultation Hotline: Phone consultation for suspected fraud cases
1955 Labor Consultation and Complaint Line: Multilingual labor consultation service
"Taipei Migrant Workers School" YouTube Channel: Multilingual fraud prevention videos
"Hand in Hand at Taipei" Facebook Page: Information about living in Taiwan and fraud prevention