TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City's anti-fraud operations have prevented nearly NT$500 million (approximately US$16.7 million) in potential scam losses, Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) revealed Thursday (June 5) while calling for more proactive government intervention. The former police officer turned politician delivered his assessment during a high-level security briefing at New Taipei City Police Department (新北市警局), where he advocated for a systemic approach that addresses root causes rather than relying solely on criminal penalties after victims have already suffered financial damage.
During the briefing, Mayor Hou praised local law enforcement's ongoing campaigns against criminal syndicates and narcotics trafficking, which he credited for maintaining the municipality's comparatively low crime rates. The mayor, who previously served as director-general of Taiwan's National Police Agency, drew special attention to elder protection initiatives, noting that New Taipei's senior population has grown to 780,000 residents, representing one-fifth of the city's total inhabitants. Hou further emphasized his administration's commitment to food safety regulations, especially regarding school meal programs for children, citing statistical improvements in food safety compliance across the metropolitan area.
Police Commissioner Liao Xun-cheng (廖訓誠) underscored the devastating financial impact of scam operations on residents, positioning anti-fraud initiatives as central to the department's public safety mandate. The commissioner detailed a dual-track approach that combines aggressive criminal investigations with preventative measures, including specialized units dedicated to dismantling organized fraud networks and innovative public education tools such as digital dashboards that track scam patterns and alert citizens to emerging threats in real-time across the city's 29 administrative districts.
When questioned about a recent fatal traffic collision involving several junior high school students in Sanxia District (三峽區), a mountainous area in the city's southeast region, Mayor Hou confirmed that authorities have referred the case to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office for further investigation. The mayor expressed his condolences to the affected families while voicing his expectation that the judicial process would thoroughly establish the facts surrounding the incident and ensure appropriate accountability for those responsible. ◼