QR codes at Taiwan’s airports are safe and the Taiwan Arrival Card filing process is free, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said on Tuesday, amid reports that a Japanese tourist was scammed by a Web site fraudulently posing as the official site to fill in the form.
Chinese-language media said that the visitor was scammed after arriving at a local airport and scanning a QR code displayed on a banner that promised to facilitate completion of the arrival card for a US$50 “processing fee.”
The Border Affairs Corps at airports and seaports regularly inspects all QR codes linked to the arrival card processing system, the NIA said in a statement.
Photo: CNA
It conducted a comprehensive inspection on Tuesday and found no banners or QR codes directing users to fraudulent Web sites, the agency said, adding that “publicity banners” are not allowed at ports of entry for safety reasons.
While no misleading information is displayed at airports or seaports, people can be directed to fraudulent Web sites via a Web search for “Taiwan Arrival Card,” it said.
People should use the official Web address for arrival card applications — twac.immigration.gov.tw — it said, adding that it is free to fill out the form.
People who have questions should seek assistance from the Border Affairs Corps or e-mail tia@immigration.gov.tw, the NIA said.
To help prevent scams, the NIA said it has produced instructional videos on how to fill in the form and is disseminating anti-fraud information in multiple languages through its Development Network for Immigrants.
The Border Affairs Corps has improved its on-site notices in arrival halls at airports and seaports to guide foreign visitors to the official Taiwan Arrival Card Web site, the NIA said.
Introduced in October last year, foreign visitors are required to submit the form online within three days before arriving in Taiwan, it said.
The process is free of charge, and once the form is completed, the system automatically sends a confirmation e-mail to the traveler.
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