(FWA 2025/12/17)Do you think selling your bank account to others is easy money? Do you think lending your bank account to others won’t cause any problems? Your account might be used by fraud rings as a tool for crime. Note that Taiwan is amending its laws. In the future, the threshold for reduced sentences for fraud crimes, even with surrender or confession, will be raised. The criminal liability for instigating or utilizing expats for fraud will also be increased. Selling bank accounts for quick cash may lead to even more serious consequences.
The Legislative Yuan passed the preliminary review of the draft amendment to the “Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act” (abbreviated as Fraud Prevention Act) on the 17th. The focus of this amendment is to crack down on fraud rings exploiting vulnerable groups. In the future, anyone instigating or utilizing expats to commit fraud will face increased criminal liability. In addition, the conditions for reduced sentences for those involved have become stricter. Even if the criminal proceeds are extremely low or non-existent, the offender must still pay the “full amount” to reach a settlement with the victim within 6 months of surrendering or confessing, and pay off the settlement amount, to have a chance at a reduced sentence. Simply handing over criminal proceeds will no longer apply for sentence reduction.
Increased Criminal Liability for Utilizing Expats in Crime
In view of fraud rings frequently targeting groups unfamiliar with Taiwan’s laws as tools for crime, Article 44 of the draft amendment specifically adds a provision: those who instigate or utilize minors, persons over the age of eighty, or expats to commit fraud shall have their punishment increased by one-half.
Threshold for Reduced Sentence Raised: Compensation to Victims Required Within 6 Months
Previously, after fraud offenders surrendered or confessed, they could receive a reduced sentence just by handing over the actual criminal proceeds, leaving victims with no way to recover their huge losses. To implement compensation for victims’ damages, the new law amends Articles 46 and 47, stipulating that offenders must pay the “full amount” to reach mediation or settlement with the victim within “6 months” from the date of surrender or the first confession during the investigation to have room for a reduced sentence.
Rising Proportion of Expats Involved in Cases
According to statistical data from the National Police Agency, the number of expat suspects committing crimes in Taiwan approached 8,300 in the first three quarters of this year, with over 3,000 involved in fraud cases (36.3%). In the past three years, regarding cases where expats sold financial accounts to become tools for fraud rings, “legal migrant workers” accounted for the largest portion at over 70%, while “unaccounted-for migrant workers” and “Overseas Chinese and foreign students” both accounted for less than 20%.
In practice, migrant workers often become involved in fraud cases due to selling or providing accounts that are used by fraud rings, potentially becoming accomplices to fraud. Beyond the risk of jail time and inability to return home if sentenced, their accounts will be frozen, making future loans or credit card applications more difficult; a criminal record after sentencing may also lead to deportation and the inability to come to Taiwan to work again.
