TAIPEI (TVBS News) — CTBC Financial Holding Co. (中信金) issued a warning on Tuesday (May 21) about a fraudulent Facebook page impersonating its major shareholder, Jeffrey Koo Jr. (辜仲諒), just a few days after he announced his return to the board. The company alerted the public to a scam where the impersonator used Koo's photos to lure people into joining an investment group on LINE, a popular messaging app.
Rising Trend of Financial Scams
This incident is part of a growing trend where scammers exploit the identities of well-known figures in the financial and economic sectors to deceive the public. A Facebook page named "Economic Doctor" used Koo's identity and past interview footage to perpetrate the fraud. CTBC Bank has urgently clarified the situation, urging people not to fall for these scams. The bank emphasized that such actions are fraudulent and advised against sharing personal or financial information lightly.
A Widespread Issue
Notably, other prominent figures like SEEC Media's chairman Hsieh Chin-ho (謝金河), Fubon Financial Holding Co.'s chairman Daniel Tsai (蔡明忠), and HTC's chairwoman and CEO Cher Wang (王雪紅) have also been victims of identity theft by scam groups.
CTBC Financial Holding Co. reminds the public to protect their rights by contacting the anti-fraud hotline at 165 if they encounter suspicious activities. This case underscores the importance of vigilance in the digital age, where the reputation of reputable individuals and companies can be exploited for deceitful purposes.