Taiwan travel advisories

Warning about special fraud (to avoid becoming a victim)

Nov. 29, 2024, midnight wide area information

We will issue wide-area information on special frauds.

Caution regarding protests and other activities related to the situation in the Middle East

Oct. 5, 2024, midnight wide area information

1

Taiwan Safety Information (3rd Quarter 2024)

Nov. 27, 2024, 11:06 a.m.

1. Social and security situation Although some groups have been holding sporadic protests around the Taipei office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in relation to the history between Japan and Taiwan, the general public's sentiment towards Japan is generally favorable. The security situation in Taiwan remains relatively stable.

2. Crime Trends (1) Number of Major Crimes According to the announcement by the National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior (provisional figures as of November 11, 2024), the number of criminal offenses from July to September 2024 was 103,560, an increase of 56.0% compared to the same period last year.
Many crimes still occur every day, and there has been a sharp increase in theft and fraud in particular, so please remain vigilant and remember that Taiwan is a foreign country, and be sure to be aware of crime prevention measures.
In addition, the occurrence rates of major crimes are as follows, so please use this as a reference for preventing victimization.
Total number of criminal offenses: 103,560 (56.0% increase from the same period last year)
Of these, 36 were murders (same as above, no change).
Of these, 20 were robberies (a 38.0% decrease from the previous year).
Of these, 14 were cases of forced intercourse (a 36.3% decrease from the previous year).
Of these, 15,464 were thefts (a 55.4% increase from the previous year).
Of these, 33,035 were fraudulent (a 213% increase from the previous year).
(2) Cases involving Japanese nationals
A. Theft (Pickpocket)
Recently, there have been many cases of pickpockets stealing wallets and other items from backpacks and handbags carried by Japanese tourists in Shilin Night Market, Jiufen (part of Ninh Phu Quoc), etc. In all cases, wallets and other items were stolen from bags hanging on the back, and in some cases, cash was stolen and credit cards were misused. Some incidents occurred while the victim was holding an umbrella in the rain, or while using a mobile phone in a crowd, so it is highly likely that pickpockets take advantage of situations where the victim is not very vigilant about their luggage.
In the past, the existence of theft groups targeting foreign tourists has been confirmed, so please be careful to keep your valuables safe by always carrying your baggage in front of your body (not behind your back), especially when eating and shopping in crowded tourist spots and event venues such as night markets.
Please also be aware that past cases of theft have been confirmed in various tourist destinations such as the National Palace Museum, Martyrs' Shrine, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, Yongkang Street, Taipei 101, World Trade Center, Ximending, Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market, and Ningxia Night Market in Taipei, Jiufen in New Taipei City, Lotus Pond, Liuhe Night Market, and Ruifeng Night Market in Kaohsiung, as well as various restaurants, airports, and train stations.

Fraud: Recently, there has been an increase in fraud cases targeting Japanese people and other foreigners. The most common methods are as follows:
・ Social media investment fraud (receiving solicitations for stocks or investments through social media groups, etc.)
- Romance scams (meeting someone on social media, taking advantage of the promise of meeting or marriage to demand money from them, etc.)
・ Internet fraud (purchasing a product online, paying for it, but the product is not delivered, etc.)
【Note!】
Promises such as "guaranteed profits," "special tips for you," and "free investment seminars by celebrities" are all potential scams. Be sure to check whether the investment destination is real, whether there is a possibility of identity theft, and whether there is anything suspicious about the transfer account (e.g., a personal account is specified as the transfer destination, the account name changes each time a transfer is made, etc.).
Also, be careful if someone you have never met talks to you about money. Anyone can easily impersonate someone else using photos posted on social media or AI. No matter how close you are to someone through chat or video calls, be careful that someone other than you may be impersonating them.

Loss of passports Since the last issue of "Taiwan Safety Information" was published, there have been 20 reports of lost passports. Most of these are believed to have been lost while out on business or in a taxi. There are also cases where it is unclear when or where the passport was lost, and there are also cases where it may have been pickpocketed, stolen, or theft.
Looking at past cases of lost passports known to the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, the following characteristics can be noted:
- Losing your passport in crowded places such as Jiufen or the night market.
- Leaving your bag containing your passport in a taxi or on public transport.
・Leaving it at the airport or in a toilet.
- After drinking until he was completely drunk, he fell asleep on the street and lost his bag containing his passport.
- Accidentally throwing away or dropping your passport when cleaning your room or moving.
As seen above, the majority of lost passports are due to carelessness on the part of the holder. If you lose your passport, in addition to reporting it to the Taiwanese authorities, if you absolutely need to return home quickly, you will need to apply for a travel document, etc. This requires obtaining a certified copy of your family register, and the application process takes a lot of time and effort. In addition, Japanese passports are highly trusted internationally, and lost passports are likely to be forged or altered, which could lead to crimes such as illegal entry and exit, or international terrorism. Please be sure to take good care of your passport during your stay.


3. Traffic Accident Trends (1) Key Statistics According to the National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior, the number of traffic accidents from June 2024 to August 2024 was 97,549, a decrease of 2.5% compared to the previous year. However, this means that there are approximately 1,060 traffic accidents per day across Taiwan.
In addition, the number of deaths (735) increased by 8.0% compared to the same period last year (680), meaning that approximately eight people are dying in traffic accidents every day across Taiwan.
As many traffic accidents still occur every day, when you go out, please be aware of the differences in traffic conditions and customs between Japan and Taiwan, and pay close attention to the driving conditions of surrounding cars and motorbikes to avoid becoming the victim of a traffic accident. In addition, we recommend that you purchase as comprehensive overseas travel insurance as possible in preparation for an unforeseen traffic accident during your stay.
The main statistics regarding traffic accidents are as follows:
Number of incidents: 97,549 (down 2.5% from the same period last year)
Death toll: 735 (8.0% increase from the previous year)
Number of injured: 129,337 (2.9% decrease from the same as above)
(2) Cases of Japanese nationals being injured There have been accidents in which Japanese nationals visiting the country for tourism have been hit by vehicles.
In the event of an accident, do not negotiate directly with the other party at the scene. Be sure to report the incident to the police, and if you are injured, seek medical treatment at a medical institution as soon as possible.

4. No terrorist or bomb incidents have been reported.

5. Number of cases of kidnapping or intimidation involving Japanese nationals: None reported.

6. No safety-related incidents have been reported at Japanese companies.

7. Purchasing overseas travel insurance We are aware of cases in which unexpected illness or traffic accidents while staying in Taiwan have resulted in expensive medical and hospital expenses.
In such cases, if you have overseas travel insurance, medical expenses and transportation costs will be covered in the event of illness, and depending on the insurance company and the contents of the contract, you may also be able to receive travel expenses for your family and arrange for a Japanese interpreter in Taiwan. When visiting Taiwan, we recommend that you take out as comprehensive overseas travel insurance as possible to prepare for unexpected crime, traffic accidents, sudden illness, etc.

8. Submitting a residence notification, etc. In the event of a large-scale accident in Taiwan or damage caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association will check the safety of Japanese nationals based on the residence notification data submitted by Japanese nationals residing in Taiwan, and the residence notification plays an important role in checking the safety of Japanese nationals. In addition, various information, including safety information, is sent to the email address listed on the residence notification. If you are staying in Taiwan for more than three months, please submit a residence notification to the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. In addition, if there are any changes to the information you have notified, such as returning to Japan or having already moved from the address you previously registered, please submit a "Return to Japan/Moving Out Notification" or "Change Notification" by referring to our website (https://www.koryu.or.jp/consul/stay/).

Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Kaohsiung Office Consular Office Address: 9F, 10F, South Heping Tower, No. 87, Heping 1st Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: (area code 07)-771-4008
FAX: (area code 07)-771-2734
E-MAIL: ryoji-k1@ka.koryu.or.jp
Website: https://www.koryu.or.jp
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JTEATAKAO
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jteatakao/

Taiwan Safety Information (3rd Quarter 2024)

Nov. 26, 2024, 12:06 p.m.

1. Social and security situation Although some groups have been holding sporadic protests around the Taipei office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in relation to the history between Japan and Taiwan, the general public's sentiment towards Japan is generally favorable. The security situation in Taiwan remains relatively stable.

2. Crime Trends (1) Number of Major Crimes According to the announcement by the National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior (provisional figures as of November 11, 2024), the number of criminal offenses from July to September 2024 was 103,560, an increase of 56.0% compared to the same period last year.
Many crimes still occur every day, and there has been a sharp increase in theft and fraud in particular, so please do not let your guard down and remember that Taiwan is a foreign country, and be sure to be aware of crime prevention measures.
In addition, the occurrence rates of major crimes are as follows, so please use this as a reference for preventing victimization.
Total number of criminal offenses: 103,560 (56.0% increase from the same period last year)
Of these, 36 were murders (same as above, no change).
Of these, 20 were robberies (a 38.0% decrease from the previous year).
Of these, 14 were cases of forced intercourse (a 36.3% decrease from the previous year).
Of these, 15,464 were thefts (a 55.4% increase from the previous year).
Of these, 33,035 were fraudulent (a 213% increase from the previous year).
(2) Cases involving Japanese nationals A. Theft (pickpocketing)
Recently, there have been many cases of pickpockets stealing wallets and other items from backpacks and handbags carried by Japanese tourists in Shilin Night Market, Jiufen (part of Ninh Phu Quoc), etc. In all cases, wallets and other items were stolen from bags hanging on the back, and in some cases, cash was stolen and credit cards were misused. Some incidents occurred while the victim was holding an umbrella in the rain, or while using a mobile phone in a crowd, so it is highly likely that pickpockets take advantage of situations where the victim is not very vigilant about their luggage.
In the past, the existence of theft groups targeting foreign tourists has been confirmed, so please be careful to keep your valuables safe by always carrying your baggage in front of your body (not behind your back), especially when eating and shopping in crowded tourist spots and event venues such as night markets.
Please also be aware that past cases of theft have been confirmed in various tourist destinations such as the National Palace Museum, Martyrs' Shrine, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, Yongkang Street, Taipei 101, World Trade Center, Ximending, Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market, and Ningxia Night Market in Taipei, Jiufen (divided into Ningxia Night Market) in New Taipei City, Lotus Pond, Liuhe Night Market, and Ruifeng Night Market in Kaohsiung City, as well as various restaurants, airports, and train stations.

Fraud: Recently, there has been an increase in fraud cases targeting foreigners, including Japanese people. The most common methods are as follows:
・ Social media investment fraud (receiving solicitations for stocks or investments through social media groups, etc.)
- Romance scams (meeting someone on social media, taking advantage of the promise of meeting or marriage to demand money from them, etc.)
・ Internet fraud (purchasing a product online, paying for it, but the product is not delivered, etc.)
【Note!】
Promises such as "guaranteed profits," "special tips for you," and "free investment seminars by celebrities" are all potential scams. Be sure to check whether the investment destination is real, whether there is a possibility of identity theft, and whether there is anything suspicious about the transfer account (e.g., a personal account is specified as the transfer destination, the account name changes each time a transfer is made, etc.).
Also, be careful if someone you have never met talks to you about money. Anyone can easily impersonate someone else using photos posted on social media or AI. No matter how close you are to someone through chat or video calls, be careful that someone other than you may be impersonating them.

Loss of passports Since the last issue of "Taiwan Safety Information" was published, there have been 20 reports of lost passports. Most of these are believed to have been lost while out on business or in a taxi. There are also cases where it is unclear when or where the passport was lost, and there are also cases where it may have been pickpocketed, stolen, or theft.
Looking at past cases of lost passports known to the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, the following characteristics can be noted:
- Losing your passport in crowded places such as Jiufen (Ninh Binh) or the night market.
- Leaving your bag containing your passport in a taxi or on public transport.
・Leaving it at the airport or in a toilet.
- After drinking until he was completely drunk, he fell asleep on the street and lost his bag containing his passport.
- Accidentally throwing away or dropping your passport when cleaning your room or moving.
As seen above, the majority of lost passports are due to carelessness on the part of the holder. If you lose your passport, in addition to reporting it to the Taiwanese authorities, if you absolutely need to return home quickly, you will need to apply for a travel document, etc. This requires obtaining a certified copy of your family register, and the application process takes a lot of time and effort. In addition, Japanese passports are highly trusted internationally, and lost passports are likely to be forged or altered, which could lead to crimes such as illegal entry and exit, or international terrorism. Please be sure to take good care of your passport during your stay.

3. Traffic Accident Trends (1) Key Statistics According to the National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, the number of traffic accidents from June 2024 to August 2024 was 97,549, a decrease of 2.5% compared to the previous year. However, this means that there are approximately 1,060 traffic accidents per day across Taiwan.
In addition, the number of deaths (735) increased by 8.0% compared to the same period last year (680), meaning that approximately eight people are dying in traffic accidents every day across Taiwan.
As many traffic accidents still occur every day, when you go out, please be aware of the differences in traffic conditions and customs between Japan and Taiwan, and pay close attention to the driving conditions of surrounding cars and motorbikes to avoid becoming the victim of a traffic accident. In addition, we recommend that you purchase as comprehensive overseas travel insurance as possible in preparation for an unforeseen traffic accident during your stay.
The main statistics regarding traffic accidents are as follows:
Number of incidents: 97,549 (down 2.5% from the same period last year)
Death toll: 735 (8.0% increase from the previous year)
Number of injured: 129,337 (2.9% decrease from the same as above)
(2) Cases involving Japanese nationals There have been accidents involving Japanese nationals visiting Japan for sightseeing being run over by vehicles. In the event of an accident, do not negotiate directly with the other party at the scene. Be sure to report the accident to the police, and if you are injured, seek medical treatment promptly at a medical institution.

4. Occurrence of terrorist attacks and bombings None reported.

5. Number of cases of kidnapping or intimidation involving Japanese nationals: None reported.

6. No safety incidents at Japanese companies have been reported.

7. Purchasing overseas travel insurance We are aware of cases in which unexpected illness or traffic accidents while staying in Taiwan have resulted in expensive medical and hospital expenses.
In such cases, if you have overseas travel insurance, medical expenses and transportation costs will be covered in the event of illness, and depending on the insurance company and the contents of the contract, you may also be able to receive travel expenses for your family and arrange for a Japanese interpreter in Taiwan. When visiting Taiwan, we recommend that you take out as comprehensive overseas travel insurance as possible to prepare for unexpected crime, traffic accidents, sudden illness, etc.

8. Submitting a residence notification, etc. In the event of a large-scale accident in Taiwan or damage caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association will check the safety of Japanese nationals based on the residence notification data submitted by Japanese nationals in Taiwan, and the residence notification plays an important role in checking the safety of Japanese nationals. In addition, various information, including safety information, will be sent to the email address listed on the residence notification. If you will be staying in Taiwan for more than three months, please submit a residence notification to the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. In addition, if there are any changes to the information you have registered, such as returning to Japan or having already moved from the address you previously registered, please refer to our website (https://www.koryu.or.jp/consul/stay/) and submit a "Return to Japan/Move Out Notification" or "Change Notification".

Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Taipei Office
Address: No. 28, Qingcheng Street, Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: (area code 02)-2713-8000
From outside Taiwan, please call (area code 886)-2-2713-8000
FAX: (area code 02)-2713-0975
From outside Taiwan, please call (area code 886)-2-2713-0975
Email: ryoji-k1@tp.koryu.or.jp

*This email is automatically sent to the email address provided in your residence notification and the email address registered with Tabi-Regi.