{
  "id": 17240619,
  "title": "Families claim Malaysians held in Taiwan were exploited by scam syndicate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/families-claim-malaysians-held-in-taiwan-were-exploited-by-scam",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T14:55:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1567209/families-claim-malaysians-held-taiwan-were-exploited-scam-syndicate"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Three Malaysians detained in Taiwan on suspicion of involvement in fraud activities may have been victims of exploitation by a scam syndicate, according to the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO). The organisation's secretary-general, Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, stated that the claim is based on information and evidence provided by the families of the individuals concerned. Hishamuddin said the Malaysians were believed to have been forced to carry out the activities, while their passports were allegedly held by the syndicate. The families' accounts suggest the victims were forced to withdraw money from ATMs in Taiwan, and their passports were held by the syndicate, raising concerns about their freedom to make decisions and the circumstances that led to their involvement in the activities. The MHO believes that all aspects of coercion, passport confiscation, or exploitation by the syndicate should be thoroughly investigated and taken into account in the justice process.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}