Credit Card Fraud Ring Busted in Taiwan; Authorities Warn Public of Fake Base Station Scam
A dozen individuals, including the alleged head of a scam ring, have been indicted for using fake base stations to send mobile SMS spam and commit credit card fraud.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation began last year when a prosecutor received reports of several people falling prey to credit card fraud. The probe led to the arrest of Kuo, 31, and 11 other suspects in November and December. Police found equipment used for scamming people in Kuo’s vehicle, including fake base stations purchased in China that allowed him and his cohorts to transmit phishing SMS messages.
How the Scam Worked
The scam worked by targeting cellphone users at busy MRT stations, sending text messages claiming their automatic billing debit for the highway toll ticket system (eTag) had failed and required them to fill in their credit card details. The stolen information was then used to purchase jewelry and electronic products at shopping malls, resulting in unauthorized transactions totaling around NT$1.3 million.
Warning from Authorities
The National Communications Commission has warned the public to be vigilant if they notice a sudden fluctuation in mobile signal or it suddenly switches to 2G, which could indicate tampering by a fake base station. The commission is urging people not to click on links that come with suspicious messages and for telecommunication operators to report any anomalies in signal transmission.
Impact and Warning
At least 30 people had their credit card details stolen by the ring, which was allegedly led by Kuo. His arrest came after a probe into reports of several individuals falling prey to credit card fraud. Authorities are now warning the public to be cautious and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
What You Can Do
- Be vigilant if you notice a sudden fluctuation in mobile signal or it suddenly switches to 2G.
- Don’t click on links that come with suspicious messages.
- Report any anomalies in signal transmission to telecommunication operators.
- Report any suspicious activity to the authorities.