TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese authorities have intensified efforts to combat domestic phone scams as criminals increasingly exploit local networks. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (刑事局) revealed Tuesday (Jan. 14) that fraudsters have shifted from using international phone numbers to domestic mobile numbers, leveraging Digital Mobile Trunk (DMT) equipment to bypass international call alerts introduced in 2024.
Investigators uncovered 11 DMT call-transfer stations in New Taipei City, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Changhua County, Yunlin County, and Kaohsiung City. Police arrested 11 suspects and seized 14 DMT devices, two card pools, two SMS modem pools, and 929 SIM cards. The bureau estimated these stations could handle up to 8,000 calls monthly, potentially preventing over 50,000 scam calls each month.
Fraudsters reportedly sourced DMT equipment from a Chinese tech firm and shipped it directly to Taiwan. Technical support was provided remotely to set up these operations. The bureau, collaborating with the National Communications Commission (NCC, 國家通訊傳播委員會) and telecom companies, plans to continue cracking down on these fraud networks. They urge the public to remain vigilant against unknown domestic calls and report any suspicious activity to the 165 anti-fraud hotline.
Authorities noted a surge in new scam tactics as the Lunar New Year approaches. Despite a slight decrease in December's financial losses from scams, the period still saw a record weekly loss of NT$3.11 billion. The number of scam cases reached 3,622 from Jan. 5-11, with losses exceeding NT$2.47 billion, highlighting the persistent threat of fraudulent investment schemes.