謙聖國際法律事務所

1. What Is a Triangle Scam in Lineage Online Trading?

A triangle scam in Lineage Online occurs when a fraudster impersonates both a seller and a buyer, manipulating two separate transactions so that one person pays for virtual goods while another person delivers those goods to the scammer.

➙Unlike an ordinary transaction dispute, the actual scammer controls the information exchanged between the parties and creates the appearance of a legitimate sale.

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1.1 How the Three-Party Scam Works

Consider a typical Lineage game-equipment transaction.The scammer first approaches a buyer and pretends to be selling equipment, game currency, or a gaming account. The buyer is instructed to transfer the agreed purchase price to a designated bank account.At the same time, the scammer contacts a genuine game-item seller, pretends to be a buyer, negotiates a purchase, and obtains the seller’s bank account information.

The scammer then provides the genuine seller’s bank account details to the original buyer.

The buyer transfers the money into the seller’s account, believing that the payment is going to the person selling the equipment. The seller sees the incoming payment, assumes the buyer has paid, and delivers the virtual equipment to the scammer’s gaming character. The scammer receives the game items and disappears.

➙The final result is that the buyer loses money without receiving the equipment, while the seller loses the equipment despite having received payment. The scammer obtains the virtual goods without using their own bank account.

However, the financial trail initially shows only that the buyer’s money entered the seller’s account. When the buyer reports the fraud, the seller’s account may therefore be reported as a warning account, and the seller may receive a police notice requesting an explanation.

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1.2 Why the Buyer and Seller Can Both Become Victims

The defining feature of triangle fraud is that the scammer manipulates the information available to both parties.The buyer believes they are paying the person who will deliver the game items. The seller believes the incoming payment came from the person who agreed to purchase the equipment. Neither person necessarily knows that a third party is controlling the transaction.

This type of fraud is not limited to Lineage Online. Similar schemes may occur in MapleStory, Ragnarok Online, mobile games, cryptocurrency transactions, prepaid card trading, secondhand marketplaces, Facebook groups, and LINE trading communities.

⚠️A common warning sign is a mismatch between the person making the payment, the person negotiating the transaction, and the person receiving the goods.

➙However, a third-party payment or delivery arrangement is not automatically fraudulent. The complete circumstances must be examined.

 

2. What Should Buyers Do After Paying for Game Items They Never Receive?

If you transferred money for Lineage equipment, game currency, or a gaming account but received nothing, your immediate priority should be preserving evidence and reporting the suspected fraud. Angry messages, threats, or repeated arguments with the scammer are unlikely to improve the situation and may complicate the evidence.

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2.1 Preserve Payment Records and Gaming Conversations

Preserve the complete conversation history from LINE, Messenger, Discord, in-game messaging systems, trading platforms, and social media.

Avoid keeping only selected screenshots. The full conversation should show:

• how the parties met
• what items were offered
• how the price was negotiated
• which bank account was provided
• when payment was made
• what happened after the transfer

Relevant evidence includes bank transfer receipts, online banking records, the recipient’s bank account information, gaming character names, server information, item descriptions, transaction dates, and screenshots showing the scammer delaying delivery, blocking you, or disappearing.

➙If the transaction was arranged through a gaming group or marketplace, preserve the original advertisement and relevant platform information.

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2.2 Report the Fraud and Identify the Actual Scammer

After preserving the evidence, contact your bank and report the suspected fraud to the police as soon as possible.

Under Article 339 of Taiwan’s Criminal Code, a person who uses deception with the intent to obtain unlawful property for themselves or another person, thereby causing another person to deliver property, may be criminally liable for fraud. The statutory punishment includes imprisonment for up to five years, detention, or a fine of up to NT$500,000, or both imprisonment and a fine.

In a Lineage triangle scam, fraud may be involved if the supposed seller never intended to deliver the equipment and instead used false transaction representations to induce the buyer to transfer money. However, the registered holder of the receiving bank account is not necessarily the scammer. The fraudster may have used a genuine seller’s account to collect the buyer’s payment and then deceived that seller into delivering virtual goods.

Therefore, the buyer should provide the police with the complete conversation history, gaming character information, transaction records, and other identifying details so investigators can examine who actually controlled the fraudulent transaction.

💡The receiving account is an important investigative lead, but it should not automatically be treated as proof of the account holder’s criminal participation.

 

3. Why Can Selling Game Equipment Lead to a Warning Account?

For a legitimate Lineage equipment seller, discovering that a bank account has been flagged can be particularly confusing.

The seller may have advertised an item, negotiated a price, received payment, and delivered the equipment exactly as agreed. Nevertheless, if the incoming money came from another fraud victim, the account may become part of a criminal investigation.

➙This creates potential legal exposure even when the seller never intended to participate in fraud.

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3.1 Aiding Fraud and Money Laundering Risks

Article 30 of the Criminal Code provides that a person who assists another person in committing an offense may be criminally liable as an aider.

In fraud investigations, police and prosecutors may examine whether the account holder knowingly provided an account, helped the scammer receive money, or assisted in withdrawing or transferring criminal proceeds. If money from a fraud victim entered the seller’s account, investigators may ask why the payment was received, what transaction it related to, whether the seller knew the payer, and whether the seller knew the funds were connected to fraud.

Article 19 of the Money Laundering Control Act provides criminal penalties for money laundering, with the applicable penalty depending on the statutory circumstances, including the amount involved. However, receiving money that originated from fraud does not, by itself, establish that the recipient committed money laundering or knowingly assisted another person’s offense. The prosecution must still establish the relevant statutory elements.

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3.2 Proving a Genuine Virtual Item Transaction

For a legitimate game-item seller, the central defense is often demonstrating that the incoming payment was received as consideration for a genuine transaction and that the corresponding virtual goods were actually delivered.

The defense should explain:

• how the transaction began
• how the other party made contact
• what equipment was discussed
• how the price was agreed upon
• why the seller provided that particular bank account

It should also establish when the payment arrived, which gaming character received the equipment, whether the delivery was documented, and whether in-game or platform records support the transaction.

For example, screenshots showing that the seller transferred a specific item to a designated gaming character shortly after receiving payment may help connect the financial transaction with the actual delivery of virtual goods. When combined with advertisements, price negotiations, messages, and transaction records, these materials may help demonstrate that the seller was conducting a genuine sale rather than knowingly helping a scammer receive or conceal criminal proceeds.

💡The objective is to establish a coherent evidentiary record supporting the absence of criminal intent.

 

4. How Is a Gaming Triangle Scam Different From a Mule Account Case?

A Lineage triangle scam may initially resemble a conventional mule-account case because fraud proceeds enter a bank account belonging to someone other than the scammer.However, the legal circumstances can be substantially different.

In a typical mule-account case, a person may surrender an ATM card, passbook, PIN, online banking credentials, or verification codes to another person, allowing that person to operate the account. In a genuine gaming transaction, the seller may simply provide their own account number to receive payment, retain full control of the account, confirm receipt of the money, and deliver the agreed virtual items.

These two situations should not automatically receive the same legal treatment.

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4.1 Providing Payment Details vs. Surrendering Account Control

Article 22 of the Money Laundering Control Act generally prohibits providing covered financial accounts, virtual asset service accounts, or third-party payment accounts for another person’s use, subject to statutory exceptions involving ordinary commercial or financial practices, trust relationships, or other legitimate reasons. Certain violations, including providing three or more covered accounts or receiving consideration for prohibited account provision, may carry imprisonment of up to three years, detention, or a fine of up to NT$1 million, or both imprisonment and a fine.

However, providing an account number so that a genuine customer can pay for goods is not necessarily equivalent to surrendering account control to another person.A Lineage seller who retains control of their account, receives the agreed purchase price, and delivers equipment may have been conducting an ordinary commercial transaction.

➙Whether Article 22 applies must therefore be assessed by examining what access was actually provided, how the account was used, and the complete circumstances of the transaction.

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4.2 The Importance of Criminal Intent

In a triangle scam, the fact that fraud proceeds entered the seller’s account does not automatically establish that the seller knowingly assisted fraud or money laundering. Investigators should examine whether the seller knew or accepted the possibility that the buyer was deceiving another person, whether the seller surrendered account control, whether abnormal compensation was involved, and whether the seller assisted in transferring or concealing funds.

A genuine sale supported by transaction records, payment confirmation, and actual delivery of virtual goods may be materially different from knowingly providing an account to a fraud organization.

🧑🏻‍⚖️The defense should therefore establish both the genuine commercial purpose of the transaction and the seller’s lack of the criminal intent required for the alleged offense.

 

5. What Happens When Your Bank Account Is Flagged in Taiwan?

A warning account, known in Taiwan as 警示帳戶, is a financial account identified through law-enforcement procedures in connection with suspected criminal activity.

For a Lineage seller, a warning account designation may arise even when the seller genuinely delivered the purchased virtual goods. The designation itself does not establish that the account holder has been convicted of fraud or money laundering.

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5.1 Financial Restrictions and Their Consequences

Once an account is designated as a warning account, banking functions may be suspended or restricted under the applicable regulations. This can affect withdrawals, transfers, online banking, payment arrangements, and access to funds.

For employees and families, the restrictions may disrupt salary payments, rent, loan repayments, utility bills, and credit card payments. For Lineage currency traders, virtual item sellers, freelancers, and online merchants, the consequences may be particularly disruptive because the affected account may be used for regular business transactions.

🚨A warning account designation may therefore create immediate financial difficulties even before criminal liability has been determined.

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5.2 How to Apply for Warning Account Removal

The process for removing a warning account designation depends on the circumstances and procedural status of the case.

• Relevant documents may include:
• a non-prosecution disposition
• a final acquittal judgment
• transaction records
• proof of payment
• settlement documents
• communications

or evidence showing that the account was used for a genuine transaction rather than knowingly provided to a fraud group.

For gaming transactions, evidence of actual delivery may be particularly important. Because virtual items do not have conventional shipping receipts, the seller may need to provide in-game transaction screenshots, character IDs, equipment descriptions, payment records, and communications showing the agreed exchange.

An application for removal should be directed through the appropriate law-enforcement procedures. Submitting supporting documents does not guarantee immediate removal, and the account holder should confirm the applicable requirements with the responsible police authority.

 

6. What Evidence Should Buyers and Sellers Preserve?

Evidence preservation is essential whether you transferred money without receiving the promised items or genuinely delivered equipment and subsequently discovered that your bank account had been flagged.

In many gaming fraud cases, the difficulty is not that the person lacks a reasonable explanation. It is that the available evidence has not been organized into a complete and verifiable account of what happened.

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6.1 Evidence for Buyers Who Lost Money

If you paid for Lineage equipment, game currency, or a gaming account but received nothing, preserve the bank transfer record, the recipient’s account information, the seller’s gaming character name, server information, item description, and original sales advertisement.

Also retain the complete LINE, Discord, Messenger, or in-game conversation history, including price negotiations, payment instructions, delivery arrangements, and messages showing that the other party failed to deliver the goods.

If the scammer deleted the advertisement, blocked your account, or disappeared, preserve any available records of those events. Any agreed transaction time, delivery method, or designated gaming character should also be documented.

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6.2 Evidence for Sellers Whose Accounts Were Flagged

💡If you sold equipment and your account subsequently became a warning account, proof of actual delivery may be especially important.

Preserve screenshots of the in-game trade, the receiving character’s name, the item description, the transaction time, and the agreed price. Retain the original sales advertisement, messages showing the other party’s intention to purchase the equipment, price negotiations, payment confirmation, and records showing when the virtual goods were delivered.

If other players witnessed the transaction, or if a trading platform or group administrator maintains relevant records, those materials may provide additional support.

➙The evidence should demonstrate that the incoming payment corresponded to a genuine exchange of virtual goods.

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6.3 Reconstructing the Transaction Timeline

Before attending a police interview, organize the events chronologically.

The timeline should identify:

• who initiated contact
• who negotiated the price
• who provided the bank account
• who transferred the money
• which gaming character received the equipment
• when the parties discovered the suspected fraud

This is particularly important in triangle scams because the person sending the money may not be the person negotiating the purchase or receiving the virtual items.

A clear timeline can help investigators understand how the scammer manipulated both parties and why the seller believed the transaction was legitimate.

 

7. How Can a Lawyer Help a Buyer Who Was Scammed?

If you transferred money for Lineage equipment or game currency but never received the promised goods, a lawyer can assist with identifying the legal issues, organizing the evidence, preparing a criminal complaint, and asserting your rights during the investigation.

In triangle scam cases, the registered holder of the receiving bank account may not be the actual fraudster. A lawyer can therefore help examine the transaction structure, payment records, and communications to identify the relevant parties and assess potential recovery options. Depending on the circumstances, legal assistance may include preparing a criminal complaint, requesting investigation of relevant transaction records, evaluating civil compensation claims, and assisting with negotiations where appropriate.

One of the main difficulties for victims is that the money has already been transferred, while the actual scammer may remain hidden behind gaming characters, messaging accounts, or social media profiles. Investigative access to financial records, communications, platform information, and game transaction records may therefore be important to identifying the responsible person and assessing whether recovery is possible.

➙A lawyer can organize fragmented screenshots, payment receipts, and gaming information into a coherent factual account that investigators can follow.

 

8. How Can a Lawyer Help an Innocent Seller With a Warning Account?

For a Lineage equipment seller or game currency trader whose bank account was flagged after receiving payment and delivering virtual goods, legal assistance generally focuses on criminal defense, evidence organization, and the applicable account-removal procedures.

The central issue is not simply whether the seller feels unfairly treated. It is whether the available evidence establishes a genuine transaction and supports the absence of criminal intent. A criminal lawyer may first reconstruct the transaction timeline, including when the other party made contact, what items were discussed, how the price was agreed, when the money arrived, when the equipment was delivered, and when the seller discovered the account restriction.

The lawyer may then examine payment records, messages, in-game screenshots, social media advertisements, character information, and delivery evidence to identify the relevant defense arguments.

During police questioning or prosecutor interviews, a lawyer may accompany the client, assist in clarifying the questions, and help ensure that the complete transaction circumstances are accurately explained. Depending on the case, the lawyer may also prepare written explanations, criminal defense submissions, or arguments supporting a non-prosecution disposition.

Where the account was used for a genuine transaction and was not surrendered to another person, the lawyer may assist with organizing supporting documents for the warning account removal process.

🧑🏻‍⚖️Chien Sheng International Law Firm provides legal assistance in fraud, money laundering, bank account, and criminal investigation matters, including cases involving online transactions and disputed financial flows.

 

9. Why Is Early Legal Assistance Important During Police Investigations?

Many people assume that receiving a police notice simply means they need to explain what happened. However, in a triangle scam case, the first police statement may become important evidence when the prosecutor later determines whether to bring charges.

If the seller fails to explain the complete transaction or provide supporting evidence, investigators may initially focus on the fact that fraud proceeds entered the seller’s bank account. This may lead to further investigation into suspected aiding fraud or aiding money laundering.

Gaming transactions can be particularly difficult to explain to people unfamiliar with online game economies. A single virtual item may have a substantial real-money value. Transactions may be arranged through LINE groups or Discord. The payer’s name may differ from the gaming character receiving the equipment, and the item may be delivered to a character that did not participate in the original negotiation. These circumstances may be familiar to experienced players, but they still require a clear explanation during criminal proceedings.

💡Early legal assistance can help translate the gaming transaction into a factual and legal account supported by objective evidence. Where the evidence demonstrates that the seller was deceived through a triangle scam rather than knowingly assisting fraud or money laundering, presenting that evidence early may be important to the investigation, potential non-prosecution arguments, warning account removal, and the assessment of civil or criminal liability.

 

10. Frequently Asked Questions About Lineage Triangle Scams in Taiwan

A triangle scam occurs when a fraudster manipulates a buyer and a legitimate seller through separate transactions. The buyer transfers money to the seller’s bank account, while the seller delivers virtual goods to the scammer. The buyer receives nothing, and the seller may later face a warning account designation because the payment originated from a fraud victim.

Preserve your payment records, complete conversations, gaming character information, server details, original advertisements, and delivery arrangements. Contact your bank and report the suspected fraud to the police promptly. Provide the complete transaction information so investigators can examine the actual scammer’s role.

Your account may have received money transferred by a person who was deceived by a third-party scammer. When that person reports the fraud, your account may be identified in the financial trail and designated as a warning account. This does not automatically establish that you knowingly participated in fraud.

No. Receiving money connected to fraud does not, by itself, establish all the elements of a money laundering offense. The relevant conduct, knowledge, intent, and surrounding circumstances must be examined under the Money Laundering Control Act.

Providing account information to receive payment for a genuine transaction is not automatically equivalent to surrendering an account for another person’s use.

Article 22 of the Money Laundering Control Act must be applied according to its statutory elements and exceptions, including ordinary commercial and financial practices.

A non-prosecution disposition may be possible depending on the evidence. Records showing a genuine sale, agreed price, payment confirmation, actual delivery of equipment, and lack of criminal intent may be relevant to the prosecutor’s assessment. No particular outcome is guaranteed.

Preserve in-game trade screenshots, item names, character IDs, server information, transaction times, messages, platform records, and any available witness information.

The strongest explanation usually connects the incoming payment to the specific virtual goods delivered through a consistent timeline.

The removal procedure depends on the circumstances and the status of the case. Relevant supporting documents may include transaction records, evidence of actual delivery, police records, a non-prosecution disposition, or an applicable court judgment. The responsible authority must determine whether the requirements for removal have been satisfied.

The buyer may have potential legal claims, but the seller’s receipt of the payment does not automatically establish that the seller committed fraud or is responsible for every resulting loss.The transaction structure, actual delivery of goods, relevant conduct, and applicable civil-law requirements must be examined before determining the appropriate parties and basis for a claim.

If your account has been flagged, you have received a police notice, or the transaction involves disputed payments and virtual item delivery, obtaining legal advice before the interview may help you organize the evidence and accurately explain your role.

🚨This is particularly important when the payer, negotiating party, and recipient of the virtual goods are different people.

 

11. Conclusion: Protecting Your Rights After an Online Gaming Scam

A Lineage Online triangle scam may appear to be a routine dispute over virtual equipment, but its consequences can extend to fraud investigations, money laundering allegations, warning account restrictions, civil compensation claims, and criminal defense proceedings.

For buyers who transferred money without receiving the promised items, the priority is to preserve evidence, report the suspected fraud, and assist investigators in identifying the person who actually controlled the fraudulent transaction. For sellers who genuinely delivered equipment but subsequently discovered that their bank accounts were flagged, the priority is to demonstrate the genuine nature of the transaction, preserve delivery evidence, and clarify whether the required elements of any alleged criminal offense are present.

A payment entering an account does not, by itself, tell the complete story. The transaction must be examined together with the communications, agreed price, gaming character information, delivery records, and the parties’ actual knowledge and conduct.

If you are involved in a Lineage triangle scam, do not assume that a genuine game-item transaction automatically eliminates every legal risk. Preserving evidence and clearly explaining the complete transaction at an early stage may be important to protecting your rights.

 

🧑🏻‍⚖️Chien Sheng International Law Firm can assist individuals involved in online gaming fraud, virtual item transactions, warning account disputes, aiding fraud allegations, and money laundering investigations. Depending on the circumstances, legal assistance may include preparing criminal complaints, organizing evidence, accompanying clients during police or prosecutor questioning, drafting defense submissions, evaluating compensation claims, seeking non-prosecution, and assisting with warning account removal procedures.

 

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