Nation's most gullible man swindled 11 times

The man, married with his own repair business in Kaohsiung, has been cheated of more than NT$3 million as a result. However, he remains adamantly optimistic that as long as his gambles pays off just once, he would recuperate his losses, the police said with disbelief.

The man first received a call in June 2006 from what was purported to be the Hong Kong Mark 6 lottery, asking him to place a bet. He did, and was later notified that he won a small prize of NT$200. He was paid accordingly.

In July 2007, the man received a call from what was purported to be the Hong Kong lottery board, saying that he won the grand prize but would be required to pay a deposit of NT$476,000. He proceeded to transfer the money, only to discover that he had been swindled. He reported the case to the 165 hotline.

In November the same year, he received a call from the “Hong Kong Jockey Club,” and was swindled out of NT$296,000, according to Apple Daily News.

From February to December 2007, he was cheated 7 times in a similar manner by calls purporting to be from the Hong Kong lottery board and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He reported the case to the 165 hotline each time.

In July 2008, he received a call from the “Independent Commission against Commission” in Hong Kong, alleging that the perpetrators of the previous frauds had been caught, and that he could recover the lost money if he paid a deposit of NT220,000. He duly paid again, and reported the fraud to the 165 hotline afterwards.

Despite being cheated so many times, the man remains optimistic. He says that as long as these calls pay off just once, he would recuperate all his losses.

He even admits that he received a similar call recently, asking him to go to Hong Kong personally to collect prize money.

“They said that if I go, I wouldn't have to pay any taxes or handling fees. If not for the fact that I don't have money to fly to Hong Kong, I would go and get all my money back in an instant!” he said.

National Police Agency fraud officer Chang Jin-lan expressed her disbelief over the man's stubborn willingness to be cheated. She said that previous victims of such frauds include retired judges, civil servants, and teachers.

The total amount of money swindled amounts to NT$720 million each year, she said. She advises all those who receive mysterious phone calls to report them to the 165 hotline.

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