When a group of 96 individuals from China arrived at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, they realized they had fallen victim to a scam after paying significant amounts of money to participate in a music competition promising lucrative prizes. The con artist had deceived them with fake invitations from the city of Taipei, collected their entry fees, and abandoned them at the airport in mid-February. Some of the musicians were so upset that they refused to return home. Experts on crime predict that such fraudulent activities will escalate in Asia, especially in greater China, as the economic downturn prompts scammers to target those who are struggling and seeking a change in their fortunes. "We see an increasing number of victims due to the economic crisis," explained Chu Yiu-kong, a criminologist at Hong Kong University. Chinese individuals have a strong affinity for money, making them susceptible to financial traps. Additionally, they place great value on fortunate opportunities, particularly during challenging periods. As trade-dependent Asian nations struggle amidst a worldwide economic downturn, countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan are experiencing recessions. In response, many businesses in the region are reducing production, halting hiring processes, and letting go of employees to cut costs. Experts in criminology suggest that scam artists tend to flourish in such dire economic conditions. According to the police, scams that are expected to rise include job search fraud, fake money lending, and convincing people to pay large fees for fake lottery prizes or business opportunities. A recent popular scam involves tricking desperate job seekers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China by pretending to be recruiters and asking for money to invest in the companies they are applying to. The companies and the money disappear by the time the job seekers try to follow up on their applications. As a result, people like Zhou Yang from Shenzhen, China, are wary of roadside job agencies as they are often deceived. According to local media reports, a scam artist in southern China managed to make 800,000 yuan ($117,000) last year by sending text messages from a mobile phone using a common Chinese name, claiming repayment of a debt. The victims, mostly individuals who already owed money to various people, fell for the trick and believed they were being pressured to pay back the debt. These types of scams only add to the hardships faced by those struggling financially. Chang Chin-lan, a prevention officer with Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau, expressed concern that as deception crimes continue to rise - increasing by a third in Taiwan from 31,000 in 2007 to 41,000 in 2008 according to police statistics - people may become desperate and morals may decline. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Hong Kong police saw a significant increase in deception crimes, with cases rising from 1,071 to 1,414. Similarly, in Singapore, there has been a 10 percent increase in "cheating and related offences" from 2,917 cases in 2006 to 3,254 cases last year. The Singapore Police Force has warned of an expected rise in phone scams and other impersonation frauds due to the economic downturn. Advanced technology has also played a role in the growth of scams, allowing perpetrators to reach a wider audience and deceive people across borders. Costly hoaxes have become more common in Asia since 2001, with the emergence of the Internet and mobile phones providing anonymity and protection from the law in multiple countries. Tsai Tien-mu, a criminology professor at Taipei Police College, highlighted the role of technology in facilitating these scams. Tsai mentioned that it is now simple for people to communicate with each other, whereas previously the perpetrator had to physically encounter the victim. Due to the ease with which con artists can conceal themselves, law enforcement faces difficulties in solving fraud cases. In Taiwan, only 10 percent of cases are resolved by police officers. On the other hand, in Hong Kong, law enforcement is more focused on educating the public rather than pursuing individual con artists, according to Chu from Hong Kong University. Frequently, the scammers can be found in China, which makes it difficult for law enforcement in Hong Kong to apprehend them. According to Zhou, a job seeker from Shenzhen, the police in mainland China are not very helpful to those who have been deceived. Zhou mentioned that even if you are a victim of fraud, contacting the police is not effective as they rarely respond and provide assistance.