When 96 individuals from China arrived at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei to participate in a music contest with promised cash prizes, they realized they had been deceived by a scam artist. The con artist had forged invitations from the city of Taipei, collected the entry fees, and abandoned the participants at the airport in mid-February. Some of the musicians were so upset that they decided not to return home. Experts on crime predict that such fraudulent schemes will become more common in Asia, particularly in greater China, as the economic downturn encourages swindlers to target vulnerable individuals seeking a change in their circumstances. 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, making them susceptible to financial traps. Additionally, they place importance on seizing lucky opportunities, particularly during challenging circumstances. The economies of trade-dependent Asian countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan are struggling due to a worldwide economic downturn. As a result, many companies in the region are reducing production, halting hiring, and implementing layoffs in order to cut costs. Experts in crime suggest that scammers tend to flourish in these dire economic conditions. One type of scam that is becoming more common involves scammers pretending to be recruiters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, tricking job seekers into investing in the companies they are applying to. These scams are on the rise, along with other deceptive practices such as fraudulent money lending and soliciting hefty fees for fake lottery winnings or business opportunities. Many job seekers are wary of falling victim to these scams, with one individual from Shenzhen, Zhou Yang, expressing caution about dealing with roadside job agencies. 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 were already in debt fell for the scheme, believing they were being pressured for repayment. These scams worsen the financial struggles of those affected. Chang Chin-lan, a prevention officer with Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau, warned that such fraudulent activities 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 recorded an increase in deception crimes from 1,071 to 1,414 cases. In Singapore, there has been a rise in "cheating and related offences" by about 10 percent from 2,917 in 2006 to 3,254 last year. The Singapore Police Force has warned of an expected increase in phone scams and other impersonation frauds due to the struggling economy. The use of more advanced technology has also contributed to the growth of scams, allowing scammers to target a larger audience and deceive people across borders. Since 2001, costly hoaxes have become more prevalent in Asia with the advent of the Internet and mobile phones, providing anonymity and making it easier for criminals to avoid legal consequences. Tsai Tien-mu, a criminology professor at Taipei Police College, noted the impact of technology in facilitating these fraudulent activities. Tsai stated that it is now simple for individuals to contact one another, whereas previously only the aggressor needed to initiate contact with the victim. Police face difficulties in solving fraud cases due to con artists being able to easily conceal themselves. In Taiwan, only 10 percent of cases are successfully solved by police officers. In contrast, in Hong Kong, law enforcement prioritizes public education over pursuing individual con artists, according to Chu from Hong Kong University. Frequently, the scammers can be found in China, where they are beyond the jurisdiction of law enforcement in Hong Kong. According to Zhou, who is looking for work in Shenzhen, the police in mainland China are not very helpful to victims of fraud. Zhou stated that even if you are deceived, contacting the police is pointless because they rarely respond and offer assistance.