The Philippine Bureau of Immigration deported 17 Taiwanese suspects in alleged telecom fraud to Taiwan on January 21 to face trial. More than NT$40 million, approximately US$1.28 million, was involved, and over 40 victims had been confirmed.
The group had long hidden in Cebu in the Philippines, where it set up a scam operation and used romance, fake investment and charitable-project schemes to entice victims into cryptocurrency investments for profit. Taiwanese and Philippine law-enforcement agencies investigated jointly for nearly a year before dismantling the operation and arresting all the suspects last year.
After completing local judicial procedures in the Philippines, the 17 suspects were formally deported to Taiwan, where they were arrested upon arrival and handed to judicial authorities. The relevant authorities said they would continue strengthening cross-border cooperation to combat overseas telecom-fraud groups and prevent similar crimes from resurfacing.
Compiled by this station.
