A woman in Pingtung lost NT$600,000 after falling victim to an investment scam involving Bitcoin. The police, in collaboration with the community, successfully arrested a 54-year-old female driver during a face-to-face meeting.

The woman, surnamed Zhou, met a man online who persuaded her to invest in Bitcoin by claiming it could help her evade high tariffs imposed by Trump. Believing in the promise of high returns, she withdrew NT$600,000 for the transaction. It wasn’t until she discussed the matter with her family that they became suspicious and contacted the anti-fraud hotline 165, confirming that it was a scam. Zhou then promptly reported the incident to the police.

After receiving the report, the police coordinated with Zhou to set up a meeting with the scammer for NT$1,330,000. They were lying in wait at the scene and apprehended the female driver when she arrived to collect the money, also seizing cash and mobile phones as evidence. The case will be referred to the local prosecutor’s office for investigation under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and police emphasized that they will continue to trace the masterminds behind the scam.