TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (台灣日本關係協會) issued a warning on Tuesday (Jan. 7) about recent cases of Taiwanese citizens being coerced into fraud activities in Japan. Secretary-General Fan Kuo (范振國) urged travel enthusiasts to remain skeptical of exaggerated job advertisements. Several Taiwanese individuals have been arrested in Japan for illegal activities under the guise of tourism, according to reports.
Fan highlighted that last year, numerous Taiwanese nationals traveled to Japan, ostensibly for tourism, but ended up participating in fraudulent schemes. Fraudulent groups have been using social media platforms like Facebook to post enticing ads, such as "easy travel to Japan while earning money," luring unsuspecting individuals into applying for jobs without understanding the nature of the work.
These illegal jobs often involve acting as "runners" to defraud victims of valuables, such as gold or luxury watches, or using the victims' ATM cards to withdraw cash. Japanese police have noted the increasing variety and brazenness of domestic fraud group operations, prompting heightened vigilance and investigation into recruiting "runners" from abroad.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部) has also cautioned citizens against falling for exaggerated job ads or the allure of high salaries, warning that they could become unwitting accomplices to fraud groups and face imprisonment. As authorities intensify efforts to combat these scams, they advise citizens to verify job offers carefully and report suspicious activities.