57 indicted over NT$900 million voice-cloning romance…

In September 2024, prosecutors in Taipei indicted 57 individuals involved in an extensive, organized romance scam that utilized AI voice-cloning technology to defraud more than 20,000 victims. The operation, which began in 2022, netted at least NT$900 million (US$28.32 million) through a highly structured criminal enterprise.

What happened

The criminal group, led by a man surnamed Huang and his wife, surnamed Hsu, operated through specialized teams including lead generation, new customer acquisition, public relations, and customer cultivation. The process began with the creation of fake dating app profiles using photos and names of women from the group's public relations team. Once interest was generated, the new-customer team engaged victims in online chats, persuading them to purchase small products under the guise of helping the women meet sales targets.

As the scam progressed, the cultivation team established romantic relationships with the victims. These interactions transitioned from buying small items to gifting expensive appliances and phones. Members of the public relations team even met victims in person for dates to collect these items. To maintain the facade during phone calls, an engineer named Chung developed custom AI voice-changing software, allowing scammers to convincingly impersonate the women from the public relations team. The ring further exploited these relationships by soliciting money for fabricated living expenses, medical bills, and cosmetic surgery debts. The organization maintained strict internal discipline, with leaders subjecting underperforming members to severe physical abuse and sexual coercion. The defendants now face charges under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, the Money Laundering Control Act, and provisions of the Criminal Code regarding internet fraud.