Fraud Summons in Taiwan: What to Do in Bank Account and Money Mule Cases

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If you receive a fraud summons in Taiwan, verify who issued it, check whether you are being called as a witness or suspect, and confirm when and where you must appear. Save the notice and preserve your messages and transaction records before the interview.

⚠️You may be contacted because your bank account received a payment, you withdrew cash for someone else, or you accepted what appeared to be a legitimate job. A notice does not establish guilt. Even after indictment, you are presumed innocent, and the prosecution must prove the alleged offense. web.law.ntpc.gov.tw

1. A Fraud Summons in Taiwan: Who Issued It?

The word “summons” can refer to several different documents. Check the issuing authority, case number, stated reason, your role, and the date, time and location.

Police interview notice (警察局通知書): Police may ask a suspect to attend questioning. If you were lawfully notified and fail to appear without a valid reason, police may ask a prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant under Article 71-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. law.moj.gov.tw
District Prosecutors Office summons (地檢署傳票): The prosecutor may want to clarify who controlled an account, who instructed you to withdraw or transfer funds, and what you understood about the transaction at the time.
Court summons (法院傳票): If you are summoned as a defendant, review the indictment, application for a summary judgment or other relevant documents with counsel. The case name on the summons may not list every charge.
Investigation Bureau notice (調查局通知): Confirm whether the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau wants to question you as a witness or suspect. For cases involving overseas transfers, cryptocurrency or several accounts, prepare records for each transaction separately.

2. Six Steps to Take Before a Fraud Interview

Verify the notice independently. Use the agency’s official website to find its phone number. Do not send money, disclose banking credentials or follow a link supplied by someone who calls claiming to be an investigator.
Preserve complete records. Keep original messages, job advertisements, loan applications, bank statements, ATM receipts, delivery records and any police report. A full conversation may show what you were told before you handed over an account or agreed to collect money.
Avoid contacting complainants or other people involved about their statements. Do not pressure anyone to withdraw a complaint, change their account or delete messages. If communication or settlement is appropriate, discuss how to proceed with counsel.
Identify the specific allegation. Find out whether investigators are asking about account access, a cash withdrawal, an in-person handover, an onward transfer or something else. Note the date, amount and account associated with each transaction.
Build a timeline from the records. Start with the first contact. Record what was requested, what you provided, who controlled the account, whether payment was promised and when you first noticed anything unusual. Mark details you cannot yet verify.
Consult a Taiwan criminal defense lawyer before questioning. Bring the notice, timeline and original records. Counsel can help you understand the allegations and decide whether to answer questions, exercise your right to remain silent or submit supporting evidence.

3. Do You Have to Attend an Interview in Another City?

Contact the unit that issued the notice before making other arrangements. You can ask whether a closer precinct can take your statement or whether the appointment can be rescheduled. Unless the issuing unit confirms a change, follow the original notice.

In a bank account case, you can ask whether the precinct near your registered address can assist with the interview. In a money mule case, an ATM withdrawal or cash handover may explain why a precinct in another city is investigating. Several withdrawals in different locations can lead to more than one notice. Keep a list of the case numbers and ask counsel whether the investigations concern related transactions.

➠Police assignment and court jurisdiction are separate questions. Under Article 5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, court jurisdiction can depend on the place of the alleged offense or the defendant’s domicile, residence or location. A registered address does not automatically give you the right to choose where police question you. law.moj.gov.tw

➠If illness or another valid reason prevents attendance, contact the authority before the appointment, provide supporting documents and confirm whether a new date has been approved. A defendant who fails to attend after a lawful summons without a valid reason may be subject to an arrest warrant under Article 75. law.moj.gov.tw

4. What Fraud Charges and Penalties Can Apply?

Ordinary fraud — Criminal Code Article 339. Fraud can involve using deception to obtain property or an unlawful financial benefit for oneself or another person. The penalty can include up to five years’ imprisonment, short-term detention or a fine of up to NT$500,000. A fine can also be imposed alongside imprisonment or detention. Attempts are punishable. law.moj.gov.tw

Aggravated fraud — Article 339-4. This provision covers circumstances such as impersonating a government agency or official, three or more people jointly committing fraud, publicly spreading a scam through media or online channels, or using fabricated images, audio or electronic records about another person. It carries one to seven years’ imprisonment, with a possible additional fine of up to NT$1 million. mojlaw.moj.gov.tw

➠Higher penalties under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act. Article 43 provides higher penalties for qualifying aggravated fraud based on the value of the property or financial benefit the victim was induced to hand over. Article 44 addresses specified combinations of aggravating circumstances. The alleged offense date and applicable version of the law matter, especially in cases that span a legislative amendment. lis.ly.gov.tw

➠Joint participation or aiding fraud. Prosecutors may allege that a person jointly committed fraud under Article 28 or aided it under Article 30. An account holder or cash courier can be investigated even if they never spoke to a victim. The prosecution still needs evidence of the person’s role and the intent required for the charge. Related allegations may include money laundering or unlawful account provision. law.moj.gov.tw

5. What Evidence Matters in Bank Account and Money Mule Cases?

▫️Bank account cases: Who had access, and why?

Start with what the other person asked for. Giving someone an account number so they can pay you is different from handing over an ATM card, PIN, online banking password or verification code that lets them operate the account.

If the request came through a job offer, loan application or online relationship, preserve the complete conversation. Check what explanation you were given, whether you were paid, whether you could still access the account, and what happened when you first noticed suspicious activity. A warning designation on the account does not, by itself, establish that you intended to help commit fraud. tpc.moj.gov.tw

▫️Money mule cases: What did you do, and what did you know?

Match each alleged withdrawal or cash handover to the bank entry, time, location and relevant instructions. ATM footage might identify the person who withdrew the money; a job advertisement or message thread might explain what that person believed the task involved. These records answer different questions, and both matter.

Where the case involves multiple victims or accounts, review each transaction separately. Check whether the alleged amounts match the records, whether another defendant’s account is corroborated, and what evidence connects you to the alleged scheme. If money laundering is also alleged, identify which funds are said to be criminal proceeds and what conduct supports that separate charge. www.judicial.gov.tw

6. Your Rights During Questioning and Before Signing a Statement

If you are questioned as a suspect or defendant, you can remain silent, retain defense counsel and request investigation of evidence favorable to you. You can say that you wish to speak with counsel before answering. If you do not understand the language used in questioning, request an interpreter. Witnesses have different obligations and may have grounds to refuse particular testimony that would expose them to criminal prosecution. law.moj.gov.tw

If you choose to answer, say when you need to check the records. Correct any inaccurate premise in the question. Before signing, read the complete statement and ask for corrections if it misstates a date, amount or person, or turns an uncertain recollection into a definite answer.

Suspect and defendant questioning generally must be audio-recorded throughout and video-recorded when necessary, subject to a statutory exception. If you have already given a statement and later notice an error, tell counsel promptly. Counsel can assess whether to seek review of the recording or submit records that clarify what happened. www.laws.taipei.gov.tw

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1: Does a fraud summons in Taiwan mean I have already been charged?

No. Police, prosecutors and the Investigation Bureau can contact you during an investigation. Check the issuing authority and your role on the notice. If the case is already in court, review the charging documents to see exactly what is alleged.

Q 2: Can I be investigated even if I only provided an account and never spoke to a victim?

Yes. Investigators may examine whether you gave someone control of an account used to receive fraud proceeds. Liability depends on the particular charge, what you knew at the time and what you actually did. An account appearing in the transaction trail is only one part of the evidence. tpc.moj.gov.tw

Q 3: Can I ask to give my statement at a precinct closer to home?

Yes, you can ask the issuing unit. Explain why you are requesting the change and confirm its decision before the scheduled interview. Sending a request does not by itself cancel the original appointment.

Q 4: Can I still defend myself if I admitted something during a police interview?

Yes. Review exactly what you admitted, how it was recorded and what other evidence supports or contradicts it. Under Article 156, a defendant’s or co-defendant’s confession cannot be the sole basis for conviction. law.moj.gov.tw

How Legal Consultant Can Help👨🏻‍⚖️

Legal Consultant can help you prepare for police, prosecutor or Investigation Bureau questioning and review the evidence in fraud cases involving bank accounts, cash withdrawals, in-person collections or cryptocurrency. Bring the notice, full message threads and transaction records so counsel can assess the role attributed to you and identify which facts need to be clarified.

Depending on the stage of the case and the evidence, counsel can assess whether to seek non-prosecution, deferred prosecution where available, acquittal, a different charge or a reduced sentence.

※ This article provides general information about Taiwanese law. It does not replace legal advice based on the notice, the applicable law and the evidence in your case.