The peak season for online mooncake shopping has begun, and scam rings have mobilised along with it — bad news for members of the public looking to order gift boxes.

• Fake sellers offer mooncakes on social media, then claim after an order is placed that the transaction failed. A bogus customer service agent then tricks the buyer into using an ATM or online banking, and the money in the account is transferred away.
• Scam rings impersonate well-known hotels and bakeries, setting up single-page fake websites to collect payments. Once the money is paid, the site shuts down and the funds are very difficult to recover.
• Some claim to have "special channels" to obtain sought-after egg-yolk pastries and pineapple cakes on a buyer's behalf, then disappear after taking a deposit — leaving no goods before the holiday and no money either.
• The buying rush has also been amplified by political factors: the NT$30 million Presidential Office state affairs fund was cut and frozen, affecting orders for 15,000 Mid-Autumn gift boxes at 37 sheltered workshops nationwide, prompting members of the public to flock online to place orders in support.

Outlook: The ordering rush will grow stronger still in the run-up to Mid-Autumn Festival. Police urge the public to stick to three principles — do not readily believe, do not click, do not follow instructions — and to confirm they are dealing with an official website or a physical store before paying.