Yunlin County official loses 1.37 million TWD to TikTok investment scam

Xing Qichun, the Director of the Inspection Division of the Yunlin County Government, was defrauded of 1.37 million TWD through an investment scam on TikTok. According to court documents, Xing joined an investment group after viewing fraudulent messages on the platform in February 2025. He subsequently transferred 420,000 TWD via bank transfer and handed over 950,000 TWD in cash to a scammer in March 2025.

While two couriers involved in the scheme received prison sentences, the full amount of the loss could not be recovered due to the complex nature of the criminal organization. Xing addressed the incident by stating it was a personal and familial error, emphasizing that his professional capabilities remain intact while calling for increased public vigilance regarding social media scams.

The incident has drawn political criticism from Wu Xindai, a Taipei City Council candidate, who raised concerns regarding national security and institutional safety. Wu argued that because the Inspection Division is responsible for maintaining government security and official secrets, the use of TikTok—a platform previously flagged by the Executive Yuan for cybersecurity risks—presents a potential infiltration risk. Wu called for the Yunlin County Government to clarify whether official devices or networks were involved and to conduct a thorough security assessment.