Taiwanese romance scam syndicate using AI defrauds 20,000 victims

Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted 57 members of a sophisticated romance scam syndicate that defrauded over 20,000 victims of approximately 900 million TWD (roughly 222 million HKD). The group, led by Huang Jianhao and managed financially by his wife Xu Xiangqi, operated with a corporate-style structure including specialized departments for lead generation, customer cultivation, and retention.

The syndicate utilized advanced technology, including AI voice-cloning software to mimic the voices of female accomplices, to build emotional trust with victims. The scam evolved from small purchases of health supplements to high-value requests for electronics, jewelry, and expensive beauty courses. To enhance the illusion of romance, the group arranged physical dates with female accomplices who would meet victims to collect fraudulent gifts.

Internal operations were reportedly brutal. Members who failed to meet performance targets were subjected to inhumane punishments, including electric shocks and sexualized physical abuse. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has requested severe sentences for the leaders, seeking 25 years for Huang and over 18 years for Xu, citing the massive scale of the fraud and the severe social impact on victims.