When 96 Chinese individuals arrived at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei to participate in a music contest with cash prizes, they discovered they had been deceived by a con artist who had fabricated invitations from the city of Taipei. The scammer took their entry fees and left them stranded at the airport in mid-February. Some of the musicians were so upset that they refused to go back home. Experts on crime predict that such fraudulent activities will rise in Asia, particularly in greater China, due to the economic downturn, which drives swindlers to target vulnerable individuals seeking a change in their fortunes. Chu Yiu-kong, a criminologist at Hong Kong University, stated, "We see more and more victims now because of the economic crisis." Chinese individuals have a strong affinity for money and can easily become ensnared by it. They also have a belief in fortunate chances, particularly during challenging periods. The trade-dependent economies of Asia are currently suffering from a worldwide downturn. Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan are experiencing a recession, leading to companies in the area reducing production, halting job hiring, and laying off employees to conserve funds. Experts in crime believe that scammers tend to flourish in these types of dire economic situations. Scams that are expected to increase include job search deception, fraudulent money lending, and persuading individuals to pay high fees for fake lottery winnings or business opportunities. A recent popular scam involves con artists posing as recruiters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, tricking job seekers into investing in companies that do not exist. Job seekers like Zhou Yang from Shenzhen, China, are now wary of roadside job agencies due to the prevalence of scams targeting desperate individuals. According to local media reports, a scam artist in south China managed to earn 800,000 yuan ($117,000) last year by sending text messages from a mobile phone using a common Chinese name to demand repayment of a debt. Many victims who fell for this scheme were already in debt to various individuals and believed they were being pressured to pay back what they owed. This type of scam only adds to the suffering of those who are already struggling financially. Chang Chin-lan, a prevention officer with Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau, expressed concern that such scams could lead to desperation and a decline in morals. Police statistics in Taiwan show that deception crimes increased by a third from around 31,000 in 2007 to 41,000 in 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Hong Kong police reported a significant increase in deception crimes, from 1,071 to 1,414 cases. In Singapore, where authorities are expecting a rise in phone scams and impersonation fraud due to the weakening economy, "cheating and related offences" have risen by about 10 percent from 2,917 in 2006 to 3,254 last year. The Singapore Police Force has warned that phone scams are likely to continue in difficult economic times, with criminals coming up with new tactics to deceive victims into giving up their money. Advancements in technology have also contributed to the growth of scams, making it easier for con artists to target victims across borders. The increase in costly hoaxes in Asia since 2001 can be attributed to the proliferation of the Internet and mobile phones, which provide anonymity and protection from legal consequences in multiple countries, according to Tsai Tien-mu, a criminology professor at Taipei Police College. Tsai mentioned that it is now simple for anyone to contact anyone else, whereas in the past, the aggressor had to physically meet the victim. Due to the ability of con artists to easily conceal themselves, law enforcement faces challenges in solving fraud cases. In Taiwan, police officers are only able to resolve 10 percent of their cases. On the other hand, in Hong Kong, authorities prioritize public education over tracking down individual con artists, according to Chu from Hong Kong University. Many times, scammers are located in China, making it difficult for law enforcement in Hong Kong to apprehend them. According to Zhou, a job seeker in Shenzhen, the police in mainland China are not very helpful to victims of fraud. Zhou stated that even if you are scammed, contacting the police is pointless as they rarely respond and provide assistance.