Malaysia's scam problem in Taiwan is getting worse, which is bad news for Malaysian students abroad and their families.

• The number of Malaysians jailed in Taiwan jumped from 33 in 2023 to over 800 now, with most caught working as money-moving drivers for scam gangs.
• Taiwan's representative in Malaysia is warning parents and students to be more careful, since arrests are happening almost daily.
• Separately, Malaysian police raided luxury flats in Kuala Lumpur and arrested 18 Taiwanese nationals running a scam ring that impersonated Hong Kong police.
• A local safety group says police should prosecute these gangs for the actual crimes, not just immigration violations, and landlords say it's hard to screen tenants for scam activity even when checking passports.

Outlook: Expect continued arrests and warnings on both sides as cross-border scam networks keep using Malaysia and Taiwan as bases.