Authorities yesterday cracked a three-man fraud ring that allegedly faked invoices to obtain more than NT$2.5 million (US$80,000) in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said.
“We want to give high-tech companies and DRAM manufacturers a heads-up about this kind of fraud,” said Wang Shun-yi (王順益), deputy of the bureau’s Seventh Investigation Division.
Wang said DRAM prices had doubled within the past 12 months because of an increase in market demand, attracting the interest of the fraud ring.
Wang said the ring, led by Lo Fu-sheng (羅福生) and two other men, Chien Chih-kun (簡志坤) and Hsueh Chen-chu (薛振助), allegedly forged bank transaction notes and receipts to make fake invoices from a DRAM manufacturer in Taoyuan County last month and then purchased 1,500 DRAM products estimated to be worth more than NT$2.5 million.
Wang said the trio was very familiar with the process of how DRAM manufacturers handle their invoices, adding that most manufacturers ship their products prior to receiving the money transfers from customers.
Lo allegedly called the company claiming to be a bank manager. He told the firm that the money had been wired, but the bank’s computer system was broken. The company did not notice the scam because Lo then faxed the forged bank transaction notes to the company.
CIB officers arrested the trio in their Taoyuan residence and transferred them to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office for further questioning after initial interviews. Wang said the trio admitted to the crime.
Wang also urged DRAM makers to double check with banks whenever they receive calls that concern money transfers and invoices.
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