Taiwan man arrested for cyber love scams

A Taiwanese man has been arrested for allegedly swindling more than 200 million Taiwan dollars (6.25 million US) from 50 women in one of the largest cyber scams in the country, police said.

The suspect, Chuang Shih-chung, claimed to be working for a Malaysian investment firm and encouraged the women he met on online dating sites to buy overseas stocks through him, said the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

At least 50 women from across Taiwan have fallen victim to the 31-year-old, who was arrested on Tuesday with four accomplices, the bureau said, adding that more victims have subsequently contacted the police.

Those duped included civil servants, teachers and nurses, but none of the women had ever met Chuang in person, according to the police.

Chuang faces charges of fraud, money laundering, document forgery and illegal possession of drugs, police said.

(c) 2009 AFP