Cover image via Xuan
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A 33-year-old Malaysian travel influencer who flaunted his glamorous life on Instagram and Threads has been arrested in Taiwan for allegedly working as a money mule in a fake investment scam
The Taichung City Police Department's Dajia Precinct announced earlier this week that the man, identified only by his surname Lin, was caught red-handed while trying to collect TWD300,000 (about RM41,200) from a scam victim.
According to multiple Taiwanese media outlets, police received a report from a victim who had already been cheated out of a large amount of money. The scam syndicate later demanded another TWD300,000 to be handed over in person.
Officers then set up an ambush at the agreed location and successfully arrested Lin, who told them he was a social media travel influencer from Malaysia.
When police checked his belongings, they found a brand-new iPhone 17 Pro containing numerous photos of overseas trips.
Further checks revealed that he was indeed a verified travel influencer with over 11,000 followers on Instagram and Threads, where he had built a reputation as a full-time globetrotter living a lavish, jetsetting lifestyle.
On his verified Instagram account, he has shared over 1,200 posts, showcasing high-quality travel photos from more than 20 countries
His bio, written in Chinese, describes him as "a not-so-professional travel photography blogger" who "loves to travel, take photos, explore, and is preparing to move forward through hard work".
The account features Story Highlights from destinations such as the Philippines, Shanghai, and Paris, along with pinned posts showing him skiing, photographing the northern lights, and posing beside European landmarks.
Meanwhile, one photo showing his arrest has since gone viral, a stark contrast to the carefully curated images of his globetrotting adventures.
The man who once posed beneath the auroras and in front of Parisian cathedrals was now seen pinned face-down on a road in Taichung, restrained by police officers.
When arrested, Lin initially refused to speak. But after several rounds of questioning, he eventually broke down and confessed.
He told investigators that he had been addicted to gambling, which left him heavily in debt.
His trip to Taiwan, he said, was originally meant to visit his girlfriend, but under financial pressure, he agreed to work for the scam syndicate as a money mule.
In Taiwan, "车手" (che shou), meaning money mule, refers to people hired by fraud syndicates to withdraw or collect stolen money, often foreigners promised "short-term, high-paying jobs". These money mules act as the syndicate's runners, taking all the risk while the masterminds remain hidden, according to one Taiwanese outlet, Mega News.
Lin expressed regret, saying he didn't know how to face his girlfriend or explain how his social media persona had completely fallen apart.
Police have since reminded the public that scam syndicates often target foreigners through fake online job ads, luring them to Taiwan for illegal work, such as withdrawing or collecting stolen funds
They urged both locals and foreigners not to trust online job ads that sound too good to be true, as doing so could lead to criminal charges and ruin their future.
Photo shows the 33-year-old Malaysian influencer arriving (left) and being apprehended (right).
Image via Xuan