Consumer Protection

Taiwan offers many consumer options, but like any place, it has challenges—especially when it comes to consumer protection. Foreigners often face unique hurdles when navigating local markets, so it's important to stay vigilant against fraud, scams, and questionable business practices. Even locals often fall prey to common consumer scams.

Online Scams

Online fraud (網路詐騙, wǎnglù zhàpiàn) is widespread, with fake websites offering seemingly irresistible deals, especially on electronics, travel, or even luxury goods. The tactics often involve creating a sense of urgency, like limited-time offers or "special discounts."

• Fake product listings on social media or third-party platforms.
• Websites with unfamiliar or misspelled domain names.
• Sellers requesting full payment upfront with no return policy.

Always verify the credibility of online vendors. Check reviews, ensure the site uses secure payment methods (look for "https" in the URL), and avoid making purchases from unknown platforms.

Phone Scams

Phone scams (電話詐騙, diànhuà zhàpiàn) in Taiwan are frequent, often involving callers pretending to be from banks, government agencies, or even the police. These callers may ask for personal information, such as your bank account number or password.

Never share personal information over the phone if you receive an unsolicited call. Instead, hang up and contact the official institution directly using verified contact details from their website. Scam callers often use the following tactics to deceive:

• Unsolicited calls pretending to be from "official" organizations requesting sensitive information.
• Applying pressure to act urgently, such as transferring money or revealing PIN codes.
• Claiming you've won a prize or owe fines to manipulate your response.

Counterfeit Goods

In Taiwan, counterfeit products (假貨, jiǎ huò) are common, especially in markets and street vendors selling electronics, fashion items, and cosmetics. These products may appear similar to branded items but are of inferior quality.

• Items sold at prices far below retail value.
• Poor-quality packaging, missing brand labels, or unclear product details.
• Sellers with no return or exchange policy.

Purchase from well-established retailers or official online platforms. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Rental Scams

Foreigners looking for residence can fall prey to rental scams (租賃詐騙, zūlìn zhàpiàn). Scammers may advertise properties that don't exist or ask for a large deposit before showing the property.

• Landlords who refuse to meet in person before signing the lease.
• Requests for large cash deposits upfront.
• Properties that seem too good to be true in terms of location or price.

Always visit the property in person, check for legal documentation, and make sure the landlord is listed with the local authorities. Use trusted real estate agents or online platforms like 591 (五九一, wǔ jiǔ yī) for more reliable listings.

Investment Scams

Investment scams (投資詐騙, tóuzī zhàpiàn) are a growing concern in Taiwan, especially as more individuals seek to grow their wealth through online platforms or high-return opportunities. Fraudulent schemes often promise large profits with little risk, targeting both locals and foreigners.

• Unsolicited investment opportunities that promise high returns with little risk.
• Pressure to invest quickly, often with limited time offers or "exclusive" deals.
• Requests for large sums of money upfront or the transfer of funds to untraceable accounts.
• Unlicensed investment brokers or platforms with no regulatory oversight.

Always verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities. Check if the platform or broker is registered with Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) (金融監督管理委員會, jīnróng jiāndū guǎnlǐ wěiyuánhuì). Be cautious of high-pressure tactics and unsolicited offers. If an investment deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Common Investment Schemes

Ponzi Schemes are a common type of investment scam, where returns to early investors are paid using the capital of newer investors, rather than through legitimate profits. These schemes eventually collapse when new investments dry up.

• Promises of consistent, high returns with little to no risk.
• Lack of transparency in how returns are generated.
• Difficulty withdrawing funds or "red flags" when asking for a withdrawal.

Be wary of investment opportunities that do not clearly explain how the returns are generated. Avoid deals that discourage you from asking questions or withdrawing your money.

Multi-Level Marketing

Multi-level marketing (MLM) refers to a business model where individuals earn income not only through direct sales but also by recruiting new members to sell products. While legal, MLM schemes can sometimes cross into pyramid schemes, which are illegal. Pyramid schemes rely primarily on recruiting new participants to generate income, rather than on the sale of actual products or services.

• Emphasis on recruiting people rather than selling a product or service.
• Promises of significant income through recruitment bonuses or team commissions.
• Pressure to invest large sums of money upfront.

If the business model revolves mostly around getting others to sign up rather than offering genuine products or services, it's likely a scam. Be cautious and avoid such schemes.

Consumer Rights in Taiwan

Taiwan has a robust Consumer Protection Act (消費者保護法, xiāofèi zhě bǎohù fǎ), which ensures your rights when purchasing goods or services. If a product is defective or not as described, you have the right to demand a refund (退貨, tuì huò), an exchange (更換, gēng huàn), or a repair (修理, xiūlǐ).

• Right to a refund, exchange, or repair for defective goods.
• Right to clear and accurate information about products or services.
• Right to file complaints and seek assistance from government agencies if needed.

Always keep receipts and any promotional material when making purchases. These can serve as evidence if there is a dispute.

Resolving Consumer Disputes

If you're dealing with a consumer issue that you can't resolve directly with the business, Taiwan offers several ways to resolve disputes.

Contact the Business

The first step should always be to approach the business or service provider. Explain the issue calmly and ask for a resolution, such as a refund or repair. Taiwanese businesses generally aim to maintain customer satisfaction.

Filing a Complaint

If the business does not respond or refuses to resolve the issue, you can file a formal complaint with the Consumer Protection Committee (消費者保護委員會, xiāofèi zhě bǎohù wěiyuánhuì). They offer mediation services and, in serious cases, can initiate legal action against fraudulent businesses. Contact information:

• Phone: 0800-011-765 (toll-free)
• Email: consumer@ccpc.gov.tw
• Website: www.ccpc.gov.tw

The Committee's website is in Chinese, so if you're not fluent, consider using a translation app or asking a local friend for assistance.

Legal Action

In severe cases, you may need to consult a lawyer or file a complaint with the local police (當地警方, dāngdì jǐngfāng) if there's fraud or criminal activity involved.

Legal procedures can be complex, so it's advisable to seek legal counsel if you feel your case may require more extensive action.