Man Scammed of NT$14M After Joining Line Investment Group LINE群組下載股票下單app 遭詐1400萬

A Taichung man that downloaded an e-trade app invested a total of NT$14 million in the stock market. When he tried to withdraw some money, he couldn't. The Securities and Investment Trust and Consulting Association of the R.O.C. says there are only 87 approved securities investment consulting firms in Taiwan and investors should confirm if a firm is legal before investing.

A Taichung man surnamed Chang that joined a Line investment group downloaded an e-trade app at the recommendation of the group's investment "teacher," who promised a consistent 10 percent return. Within a few months, he had invested NT$14 million. When he tried to withdraw a large sum recently, he was denied. Only when he was asked to pay a sum of money to "reactivate" his frozen account did he realize he'd been scammed.

Mr. Chang, Scam Victim: “I wanted to withdraw my money, but they said no. They said I had to (re)activate (my account) first. When I heard the word "reactivate," I knew I was in trouble. I'd never heard that term used in Taiwan before. That's why I called the police.”

The Securities and Investment Trust and Consulting Association of the R.O.C. says there are only 87 legal securities investment consulting firms in Taiwan, and investors must open an account with a firm before they can buy and sell stocks. A list of the firms can be found on the Financial Supervisory Commission's website. Investors can also check with the association.

Chu Cheng-chih, Dep. Chair, Securities and Investment Trust and Consulting Association of the R.O.C.: “Only certified securities investment firms can provide investment advice. All others are illegal. People should not use software or click on links that are not provided by a legal firm.”

Mr. Chang reported his case to the police in the hopes of preventing others from falling prey to the same scam. The association, meanwhile, reminds everyone that only investment advice from legal channels should be considered, and advice received via text message or social media should be ignored.

台中張先生日前收到邀請加入LINE線上投資解盤的群組，群組的解盤老師推薦穩定收益10%以上的股票，張先生短暫獲利不疑有他，並下載一款下單APP轉進轉出，陸續在幾個月內投入1400萬元。直到最近要提領大筆款項被拒絕，對方要求付費激活被封鎖的帳號後，才驚覺受騙。

受騙民眾張先生表示：「想說要把錢全部退出來，退出來的時候他說不行，你要先把他激活，我聽到激活兩個字就完蛋了，因為我從來在台灣沒有人在用所謂的激活，然後我才會跑去報案。」

中華民國投信投顧公會表示，全台灣只有87家合法的證券投資顧問公司，買賣股票必須到證券公司開戶，除此之外其他媒介都是非法，投資人可到金管會網站查詢，或致電公會確認。

中華民國投信投顧公會副理事長朱成志表示：「除了合法的證券投資顧問公司可以做證券顧問諮詢的業務，其他通通非法，你透過證券公司相關的，不管報價軟體、連結下單都至少有個證券公司嘛。」

張先生已到派出所報案，站出來只是希望揭露詐騙手法，希望不要有更多人受騙。投顧公會提醒，簡訊、社群軟體詐騙多，投資有賺有賠，應透過合法管道尋求投資建議。