A Taipei City councilor yesterday said that scam letters being sent through the mail are using people's images as guarantors without their permission and warned the public to be aware of such scams.
The letters tell recipients that they are the winners of a major cash prize and ask the recipient to call a number to arrange to pay taxes on the prize. The prize then never materializes.
"These scams use individuals' photos without their prior knowledge and then turn [the unsuspecting photo subject] into one of their tools to trick people and cheat them out of their money," said Independent Taipei City Councilor Chin Li-fang (秦儷舫) at a press conference yesterday.
Attending the press conference were Su Ying-shiao (蘇英孝), general manager of the Yifu Investment Consultant Corp and Chang Chia-yu (章嘉玉), general manager of the Kuanhua Bond Investment and Trust Corp, both of whom have discovered that their images have been used on such letters.
According to Chin, con artists obtain individuals' photos from sources such as newspapers and magazines and then reuse them without permission.
"On these flyers, the fraud groups throw in made-up names and professional titles under these unauthorized photos and label those pictured individuals as their incentives' guarantors," Chin said.
Both Su and Chang said that they were only aware that their photos had been used when they happened to come across the letters.
Chin said that while it is difficult to prevent con artists or other impostors from using an individual's photo, anyone who finds himself a victim of the practice should immediately contact the police.
"People should also remember that there is no such thing as free lunch," she added.
"So never believe a word of any such flier or letter that you receive in your mailbox," she said.
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