How to Report Cybercrime in Taiwan (and Get Your Money Back)

Quick answer: If you have just been scammed online in Taiwan, call the 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline immediately (dial 165, free, 24 hours) and call 110 for police. You can also file an online report at 165.npa.gov.tw, run by the National Police Agency. Then call your own bank at once and tell them it is fraud, so they and 165 can ask the receiving bank to apply an emergency account suspension (a "warning account" freeze) before the money is withdrawn. Refund reality: if the funds are still sitting in the recipient account they can often be frozen and returned, but money that has already been cashed out or moved abroad is very hard to recover, so speed is everything.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Call 165 and 110 now. Dial 165 (the Anti-Fraud Hotline, free and 24 hours) to report the scam and get guidance, and call 110 for police. Give them the recipient account number, the bank name, the amount, and the time of transfer.
2. Call your own bank immediately. Tell your bank it was a fraudulent transfer and ask them to act. Your bank and 165 can ask the receiving bank to apply an emergency account suspension so the money cannot be moved.
3. File the official report and keep evidence. Lodge a report online at 165.npa.gov.tw or in person at any police station, and preserve every chat, transfer receipt, phone number, and web link as evidence for the investigation.

How recovery actually works

When you report fast, the goal is to freeze the recipient account before the criminals empty it. Your bank or the 165 system notifies the receiving bank, which can flag the account as a "warning account" and apply an emergency suspension or fund-control measure (圈存) so the disputed money cannot be transferred out. If your money is still in that account, it can often be held and eventually returned through the case process. Once the scammers withdraw the cash, convert it to cryptocurrency, or push it through layers of mule accounts and overseas, recovery becomes very difficult. The Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act (promulgated 31 July 2024) and the Financial Supervisory Commission have pushed banks to monitor abnormal transactions and act faster, but no freeze is guaranteed, so reporting within minutes gives you the best chance.

What to have ready

• The recipient's bank name and account number (the account you transferred to).
• The exact amount, date, and time of each transfer, plus your own account details.
• Transfer receipts, bank confirmation messages, or screenshots of the transactions.
• All contact with the scammer: phone numbers, LINE IDs, messages, emails, and website or app links.
• Your national ID or ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) and a contact number for follow-up.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 165 hotline free and does it have English help? Yes, 165 is free to call and operates 24 hours through the National Police Agency. Frontline service is mainly in Mandarin; if you do not speak Chinese, ask a Chinese-speaking friend to help, or report online and go to a police station, where you can request language assistance.

Can I really get my money back? Sometimes. If you report within minutes and the funds are still in the recipient account, an emergency suspension can freeze them for possible return. If the money has already been withdrawn or moved into crypto or overseas accounts, recovery is unlikely. There is no guaranteed refund, so report immediately.

What is the difference between 165 and 110? 110 is the general police emergency number for crimes in progress and immediate danger. 165 is the dedicated anti-fraud line for scam reporting, advice, and triggering account-freeze action. For an online scam, call both and tell your bank.

Sources

• 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline online reporting (National Police Agency)
• National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior, Hotline information
• Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC)
• Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act (Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China, Taiwan)

For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.