TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Police Rapid Transit Division caught a pair of brothers surnamed Tsai (蔡) who used damaged or defective NT$50 (US$1.50) coins at EasyCard machines in Taipei MRT stations.
Fake or damaged coins had been received beginning February 12, 2023. Taipei MRT contacted police authorities to track down the source of these coins, which were used at Banqiao, Ximen, Jiangzicui, and Xingtian Temple stations.
Police scanned records of Easycard and iPASS users applying for a refund after adding coins, per CNA. After reviewing data and surveillance footage, police narrowed their focus to a 48-year-old man surnamed Tsai, who was employed in the tourism industry.
On March 9, Tsai was discovered at Jiangzicui MRT Station, where officers apprehended him. Police discovered Tsai was carrying nearly one hundred NT$50 coins on his body.
During the investigation, police discovered he had a 45-year-old brother who was also suspected of using counterfeit coins. The brothers later confessed that they had purchased the coins from a recycling company involved in cross-strait business.
The brothers bought the coins at a 30–40% discount and went to a bank to exchange the money but were rejected. They worried the coins would be confiscated if sent for an official inspection, so they used them at Taipei MRT stations.
The elder brother handled 3,974 defective coins and the younger brother handled 1,174. The total value of the defective coins was more than NT$250,000.
The case was turned over to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for investigation on April 24. The brothers will be charged with fraud and violating the criminal code by using counterfeit currency.
Police urged the public to report counterfeit currency to financial institutions. The use of counterfeit coins or bills in coin-operated payment machines or stored-value machines constitutes fraud and could lead to imprisonment of up to three years.
