Taiwan police warn of rising phishing and LINE video fraud

Police in Taiwan are warning the public about evolving fraudulent tactics, including a new method involving LINE video calls. In Kaohsiung, authorities released a video using classic film motifs to demonstrate how scammers use video calls to trick victims into filming payment codes or cardless withdrawal QR codes under the guise of identity verification or refund assistance.

Data from August 2026 indicates a significant rise in phishing link scams. While overall telecommunications fraud cases and financial losses decreased compared to the previous year, phishing link incidents saw a massive surge, with reported cases increasing by 99.6% and financial losses rising by 317.7% year-on-year.

Common phishing themes include impersonating government agencies, telecommunications providers, financial services, e-commerce platforms, and logistics companies. Scammers often use urgent notifications regarding unpaid fees, tax refunds, or delivery failures to lure victims into clicking malicious links. Authorities advise citizens to avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages and instead use official apps or websites to verify information.