Crime Reporting in Taiwan: Using Fraud as an Example

This article provides an overview of crime data in Taiwan and introduces the evolving nature of fraud as a growing criminal and social concern. Anchored in Taiwan’s Criminal Code, this article first outlines major legislative reforms and law enforcement agencies and then use policy initiatives targeting telecommunication fraud as an example. Drawing on official data from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the National Police Agency (NPA), the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), and the 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline Center, the study identifies fraud as the most prevalent crime in Taiwan between 2020 and 2024, with incidents more than doubling during this period. The analysis of fraud suspects and victims reveals notable increases across all age and gender groups, with middle-aged suspects and elderly victims disproportionately affected. Although Taiwan has expanded its anti-fraud measures through cross-agency collaboration, strengthened legal frameworks, and public awareness campaigns, the persistently low clearance rate and limited recovery of victim losses continue to pose substantial challenges. The article concludes by discussing the limitations of using official crime data and advocating for improved data integration and inter-agency cooperation to strengthen Taiwan’s capacity for fraud-combating in the digital era.