1School of Economics and Management, Guangzhou Institute of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, China
2Department of Finance, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin County, Taiwan 640301, R.O.C
3Department of Hospitality Management, Tung Nan University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan 222304, R.O.C
This study conducts a longitudinal analysis of telecommunication and online fraud in Taiwan from 2022 to 2025, examining the evolution of crime structure, the improvement of judicial efficiency, and the adaptability of governance strategies. The findings indicate a three-stage transformation in offender roles: initially relying on identity accounts as the operational foundation; shifting to direct perpetrators as account controls intensified; and, more recently, exhibiting a “displacement effect” toward cashiers and money laundering agents under enforcement pressure, reflecting the high adaptability of criminal networks. With respect to judicial efficiency, the study uses the average convictions per case (ACPC) as an indicator, revealing a sustained increase in conviction momentum, which reflects the enhanced effectiveness of the judicial system in investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating complex cases. Finally, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this study proposes policy recommendations to strengthen financial integrity, enhance the resilience of digital infrastructure, and improve institutional governance capacity to address the continuously evolving nature of fraud.
| [1] | Dadà, C. B., Colautti, L., Rosi, A., Cavallini, E., Antonietti, A., & Iannello, P. (2025). Uncovering vulnerability to fraud and scams among adult victims in online and offline contexts: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 172, 108734.View Article |
| [2] | Junger, M., Koning, L., Hartel, P., & Veldkamp, B. (2023). In their own words: Deception detection by victims and near victims of fraud. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1135369.View Article PubMed |
| [3] | Korsell, L. (2020). Fraud in the twenty-first century. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 26(3).View Article |
| [4] | Feedzai, & Global Anti-Scam Alliance. (2024). Global state of scams report 2024. Feedzai. |
| [5] | Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). (2023). 2023 internet crime report. Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| [6] | Hanoch, Y., & Wood, S. (2021). The scams among us: Who falls prey and why. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 30(3), 260–266.View Article |
| [7] | Brenner, L., Meyll, T., Stolper, O., & Walter, A. (2020). Consumer fraud victimization and financial well-being. Journal of Economic Psychology, 76, 102243.View Article |
| [8] | Ueno, D., Arakawa, M., Fujii, Y., Amano, S., Kato, Y., Matsuoka, T., & Narumoto, J. (2022). Psychosocial characteristics of victims of special fraud among Japanese older adults: A cross-sectional study using scam vulnerability scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 960442.View Article PubMed |
| [9] | Sarriá, E., Recio, P., Rico, A., Díaz-Olalla, M., Sanz-Barbero, B., Ayala, A., & Zunzunegui, M. V. (2019). Financial fraud, mental health, and quality of life: A study on the population of the city of Madrid, Spain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(18), 3276.View Article PubMed |
| [10] | Bilz, A., Shepherd, L. A., & Johnson, G. I. (2023). Tainted love: A systematic literature review of online romance scam research. Interacting with Computers, 35(6), 773–788.View Article |
| [11] | Abroshan, H., Devos, J., Poels, G., & Laermans, E. (2021). Phishing happens beyond technology: The effects of human behaviors and demographics on each step of a phishing process. IEEE Access, 9, 44928–44949.View Article |
| [12] | Su, Y., Shih, C. H., & Yang, T. J. O. (2024). Investment fraud cases study in Chinese context of instant messaging software. Procedia Computer Science, 246, 391–402.View Article |
| [13] | Ministry of Justice. (2025). Statistics on telecom and online fraud cases handled by district prosecutors’ offices (June 2021–June 2025). Ministry of Justice, Taiwan. |
| [14] | Ministry of Justice, R.O.C. (Taiwan). (2025). Statistical data on telecommunication and online fraud cases investigated, proportion of new cases, concluded investigations, and finalized convictions. Ministry of Justice Statistical Information Network. |