In-person cryptocurrency transactions turn into robberies! Taiwanese woman meets crypto trader online for a deal, robbed of 180,000 at Pingtung train station

A woman with the surname Ye in Taiwan recently experienced a robbery incident during an over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency transaction.
(Background: Taiwan has passed the “Fraud Crime Prevention Act” in third reading: the maximum penalty for fraud is 100 million NT dollars, with increased penalties for luxury homes, sports cars, and flaunting wealth)
(Additional background: The Taiwanese government holds (confiscates) 210 Bitcoin! Over 2,000 ETH, nearly 300 BNB… totaling over 1.3 billion NT dollars)

A woman with the surname Ye in Taiwan recently experienced a robbery incident during an over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency transaction. She was exchanging cash with a person claiming to be a “cryptocurrency dealer” at Pingtung Train Station when the individual suddenly snatched her NT$180,000 and fled. Fortunately, the police quickly intervened and within a few days of the incident, all three suspects involved were arrested.

Incident Details

The police stated that Ms. Ye met a person claiming to assist with buying and selling virtual currencies through online dating channels. The two parties then contacted each other via messaging apps and agreed to meet at Pingtung Train Station for a face-to-face cash exchange. During the transaction, the suspect took advantage of Ms. Ye’s inattentiveness, suddenly snatching her NT$180,000 and fleeing the scene. Shocked, Ms. Ye immediately called 110 to report the case.

After receiving the report, the Kaohsiung Branch of the Railway Police immediately formed a special task force with the Criminal Investigation Brigade and Pingtung Branch, and reported to the Pingtung District Prosecutor’s Office for investigation. The police reviewed surveillance footage around the train station and traced relevant leads, quickly identifying the suspects. On the 29th, the task force obtained arrest and search warrants, apprehending a man surnamed Chiu and two other accomplices, one of whom was a minor, and seizing relevant evidence.

The police stated that after questioning, the three suspects were transferred to the Pingtung District Prosecutor’s Office for investigation on charges of robbery under Article 325 of the Criminal Law. The police also remind the public that in recent years, scams and violent crimes related to cryptocurrencies have become increasingly common. If there is a need to trade virtual assets, it is recommended to use legitimate trading platforms and avoid private face-to-face exchanges with strangers carrying large amounts of cash to prevent danger.