Romance Blackmail Scams in Taiwan
Sextortion and online romance fraud targeting Taiwanese users on social media and dating apps, often linked to regional organised crime networks.
Part of: Romance Blackmail Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sextortion and romance-based blackmail operate extensively in Taiwan, with victims targeted through Facebook, Instagram, and dating apps. Scammers — frequently operating from organised fraud networks — cultivate intimate relationships online before obtaining compromising material and then threatening to share it with the victim's LINE contacts or Facebook friends.
Taiwan's highly connected social media environment, where family and professional networks overlap significantly on LINE and Facebook, amplifies the leverage scammers can exert.
How this scam works on Taiwan
Victims are matched on a dating platform with an attractive profile who quickly moves conversation to LINE. After building rapport, the scammer engineers an intimate video call using pre-recorded footage. Screenshots are taken and the demand for payment arrives within hours.
In an evolved variant, the scammer claims to be a minor or to have shown the conversation to parents who are now threatening police action. Payment is demanded to settle the matter quietly.
Long-running romance scams in Taiwan sometimes combine emotional manipulation with financial requests, convincing the victim that they are in a genuine relationship before requesting money for a medical emergency or travel expenses.
Common red flags
- New dating contact who moves conversation to LINE very quickly
- Rapid escalation toward intimate video calls
- Demand for payment to prevent sharing of compromising material
- Claims of age-related or parental concerns used to maximise fear
- Requests for money within a relationship citing emergencies
- Profile photos that are very attractive but unverifiable through a reverse image search
How to protect yourself
- Do not share intimate content with online contacts who have not been met in person
- Verify identity through unscripted live video before developing any emotional investment
- If blackmailed, do not pay — report to police and preserve all evidence
- Set your LINE and Facebook contact lists to restrict visibility to mutual friends
- Contact the Investigation Bureau immediately if compromising material is threatened
- Seek support from a counsellor — these crimes cause real psychological harm and you are not at fault
How to report it
- Report to Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) cybercrime unit at cib.gov.tw
- Call the 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline
- Report profiles to the relevant platform and request content takedown
Frequently asked questions
Can I get intimate images removed from social platforms in Taiwan?
Yes. Taiwan's laws on non-consensual intimate imagery give victims rights to request takedowns. The platforms themselves have reporting mechanisms. The Investigation Bureau can also assist with emergency takedown requests in cases involving ongoing blackmail.