Exploring Telefraud Issues: Using a National Representative Sample in Taiwan

• In Event: Identity Theft & (Tele)Fraud

Abstract

Fraud can result in tremendous financial loss to ordinary people and seriously disturb victims’ daily lives and functions in many aspects. Yet, in the most recent years, telefraud seems to have become one of the top social concerns in Taiwan and the authorities have devoted efforts to combat such criminal activities. This study aims to illustrate the issue of telefraud in Taiwan, provide legal definitions, and describe the emerging prevalent types of telefraud. In particular, this study employs a national representative sample of 87,771 collected in 2023 by the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Taiwan and other official trend data (2013-2023) to demonstrate the features of fraud/telefraud and telefraud victimization. This study found that certain demographic characteristics directly influence the likelihood of falling prey to different fraud means and fraudulent payment methods. Future research and policy implications also are discussed.

Authors

• Wei-Gin Lee, George Mason University

• Ethan Jian, University of Delaware

• Shun-Yung Kevin Wang, Texas A&M University / Tarleton State University

• Ming-Li Hsieh, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire