A Taiwanese man lost nearly NT$13 million to a fake investment scheme, and the four couriers who collected his cash have been given heavy prison terms — a win for victims, a warning to low-level scam workers.

• The victim handed over NT$12.95 million in stages to men posing as investment company staff, then realized the money was gone.
• Police tracked down and arrested the four cash collectors after he reported the fraud.
• A Pingtung court sentenced them to between three years and five years four months for joint fraud.
• Each must also repay part of the loss, from NT$1.82 million to NT$5.68 million.
• The four said they passed all the cash up to the gang's bosses and were paid only NT$5,000 to NT$20,000 each.

Outlook: The sentences can still be appealed, and the ringleaders who took the money remain out of reach.