Mercedes-Benz Driver's Suspicious Circles Lead to Arrest in Taiwan Scam Bust

A suspicious Mercedes-Benz circling the scene of a planned sting operation in Sanxia, Taiwan, led to the arrest of a "monitoring driver" and a female "money mule" involved in a sophisticated fraud scheme.

A dramatic incident unfolded in Sanxia District, New Taipei City, Taiwan on the 22nd, as police apprehended individuals involved in a fraud case. The operation targeted a group of scammers exploiting victims through investment scams.

The police were conducting a sting operation to catch a female "money mule" when they noticed a Mercedes-Benz continuously circling the area. Upon approaching the vehicle, the driver abruptly reversed, ramming into a police car. Swift action by the officers, including breaking the car windows and deploying pepper spray, led to the apprehension of the driver. The female money mule was also arrested, and authorities are actively pursuing other accomplices involved in the scheme.

The initial investigation revealed that a 53-year-old woman from Sanxia, who worked as a caretaker, had fallen victim to a scam. She was persuaded by a "stock guru" to join an investment group and download a fraudulent app, leading to the loss of NT$1.1 million after five transactions. Police, led by Sanxia Police Precinct Chief Huang Cheng-yen, decided to use the victim to lure the criminals. They planned to have her pretend to invest an additional NT$2.1 million to capture the scammers.

On the day of the bust, the arranged meeting took place at a convenience store in Sanxia. A 38-year-old female "money mule" from Yilan arrived to collect the money. She received a bag containing fake currency from the victim. Meanwhile, a white Mercedes-Benz, driven by a 26-year-old named Gao, caught the attention of the police as it circled the area. When officers approached the car, Gao attempted to flee by crashing into a patrol car. However, law enforcement officers took quick action, surrounding the vehicle, smashing windows, and deploying pepper spray to subdue Gao.

Gao, the Mercedes-Benz driver, was identified as a "monitoring driver" for the fraud ring, assigned to oversee the transaction. The gang was concerned that their money mules would "embezzle" the funds, so they sent him from Tainan to Sanxia to supervise. His early arrival in Sanxia and his erratic driving drew the attention of the police, leading to his arrest. The money mule, Lin, was also apprehended at the convenience store. She claimed ignorance of the scam, stating that she thought the job as a "field agent," fetching cash and delivering fake receipts, was legitimate. She was promised a monthly salary of NT$43,000 plus a NT$7,000 attendance bonus.

Three officers were injured during the operation, and the precinct chief, Liu Wen-hsiung, visited the police station to offer support. The police confiscated mobile phones, counterfeit work IDs, receipts, and the Mercedes-Benz used in the crime from the suspects. Gao admitted to participating in the crime for the second time, having received only 3% of the NT$800,000 he helped to steal in Hualien. The police are currently pursuing the other perpetrators involved in the scheme and plan to prosecute Lin and Gao on charges of aggravated fraud and money laundering.