PETALING JAYA: Three Malaysians studying in Taiwan have been arrested over the past three months for alleged involvement as “money mules” in fraud cases, according to the Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia.

The alumni president Pang King Hoe said parents sought help from the alumni after losing contact with their children for some days.

The parents feared that their children had gone missing.

 “We later find them at police stations where they have been detained over fraud-related activities,” he told Sin Chew Daily.

A Malaysian student would be charged next month, said Pang, adding that he believes Malaysian students may involve in more cases but remain unreported.

“This is the third case that we are aware of so far,’’ he said.

While Malaysians had been previously arrested in Taiwan for working as middlemen or runners for fraud syndicates in Taiwan, Pang said it was alarming to see Malaysian students studying in Taiwan involved with the syndicates now.

“Parents said their children were misled, possibly tricked by friends or by tempting part-time job offers,” he said, adding that the association without having access to students, the association was unable to know more.

“The real danger is students thinking it’s just a small errand, without realizing it could leave them with a criminal record that affects their future studies, career, and travel,” he said.

On Sep 23, the alumni issued an advisory to Malaysian students in Taiwan, outlining six safety rules to avoid falling into scams:

1. Never hand over bank accounts, cards, OTP codes, seals, or identity cards.

2. Do not collect or transfer unknown funds or parcels.

3. Avoid face-to-face dealings for vague “simple tasks.”

4. Do not click or download suspicious links; be wary of part-time job groups.

5. Seek help immediately if in doubt; don’t act alone.

6. High returns come with high risks.

Pang urged students to focus on their studies, internships and student activities instead of chasing quick money.

The alumni is in talks with Overseas Community Affairs Council in Taiwan to form a special task force that will provide legal aid and help Malaysian families, he said.

According to the statistics of the police in Taiwan, the number of fraud suspects involving foreigners rose sharply from 521 in 2022 to 1,862 in 2024.

 In the first half of 2025 alone, 2,054 foreigners were linked to fraud cases, making up nearly 38 percent of all suspects—far surpassing other categories of crime.