Urine Trouble: Taichung Man Foiled in Elaborate Online Health Scam

A quick-thinking bank teller and police intervention saves a Taiwanese citizen from falling prey to a deceptive health scheme.

Taipei, April 21 - A 70-year-old man in Taichung, Taiwan, narrowly avoided losing NT$120,000 (US$3,699) to an online health scam thanks to the vigilance of a bank teller and the swift action of local police.

According to the Taichung Police Department's Qingshui Precinct, the man, surnamed Wang (王), was lured into the scheme after encountering an online advertisement promising health treatments to restore vitality. The ad prompted him to add the company's "guidance center" on Line, a popular messaging platform.

Once connected, Wang was contacted by an individual identifying themselves as a "professor" who claimed to diagnose health issues remotely using uploaded photos of the patient's urine. Following the submission of the photos, the "professor" requested payment for a medical ointment.

Wang proceeded to a local bank branch to wire the funds. The bank teller, becoming suspicious of the transaction's purpose after questioning Wang about his purchase, investigated the recipient's account. The teller discovered "abnormal cash flows" associated with the account and alerted the police.

Upon arriving at the bank, officers found Wang on the phone with someone claiming to be the owner, surnamed Chen (陳), of a health product resale company. When asked for the company's tax ID, Chen quickly disconnected the call.

The police explained the common scam tactic to Wang, and the bank teller pointed out the discrepancies between the recipient account's registered details and the information provided over the phone. After a detailed discussion, Wang agreed to halt the payment. Police assisted him in blocking the company's account on Line.

In its statement, the police department reminded the public to seek medical care only from accredited healthcare providers. The department warned against relying on unproven folk remedies or superstitious practices, emphasizing that such beliefs can lead to both financial loss and potential harm to one's health, and can be exploited for fraudulent purposes.