Mr. Chen, 70, met someone claiming to be "Sakurako" from Japan on a social media platform. The two hit it off, and Sakurako often shared details of her daily life, occasionally sending seemingly sweet selfies. Over time, Mr. Chen grew fond of this online acquaintance and even began looking forward to their daily messages. But behind it all was a carefully orchestrated scam.
What Happened
One day, Sakurako told Mr. Chen she had an investment opportunity that promised a guaranteed 30% monthly return — all he had to do was wire a certain amount as principal. She even attached a screenshot of a bank statement showing substantial deposits over the past few months. Tempted, Mr. Chen decided to start by wiring NT$50,000 to test the waters.
After the transfer, Sakurako claimed the investment was up and running and that she would report weekly profits. But two weeks later, Mr. Chen could no longer reach her — the chat room had been deleted. Realizing he might have been scammed, he immediately reported the case to the Shilin Police Precinct.
An investigation revealed that the bank statement was forged, and Sakurako's photos were stolen from someone else's social media profile. Police acted quickly, freezing the remaining NT$150,000 before the funds could be transferred out, and referred the case for prosecution.
Why This Tactic Works
At its core, this type of scam combines two psychological tactics: emotional bonding and authority endorsement. Scammers first build emotional dependency through everyday conversation — victims gradually come to see the scammer as a trusted friend or even a romantic partner through daily messaging. Once that emotional foundation is solid, when the scammer presents an "investment opportunity," the victim's brain is already primed to trust rather than question rationally.
Add in a forged bank statement as seemingly professional "evidence," and the victim is misled into believing this is a verified, legitimate investment channel. Emotional trust paired with visual forgery creates a double layer of persuasion — which is exactly why even highly educated people, and those who are normally alert, can still fall for it.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
Three Actions You Can Take Right Now
- Verify their photos — Any selfie someone sends you can be reverse-image searched using VerifyAI. If the same face appears under a different name or different account, that's a red flag.
- Reject "guaranteed returns" talk — Any investment claiming "guaranteed 30% monthly returns" or "risk-free profits" is a scam. Legitimate investments always carry risk — no one can guarantee returns.
- Get a third-party opinion — When the conversation turns to money, pause. Tell someone you trust, or call your local fraud hotline. Outsiders can often spot red flags more easily than someone caught up in the situation.
They don't have to ask anyone — just one photo can reveal what names that face has been linked to online.
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— This article is adapted from a public report by Yahoo News. VerifyAI has summarized and supplemented context for narrative clarity. Facts, timeline, and relationships are as reported in the original article.