Fraud website checker: compare a URL with Taiwan's 165 list
The HowBridge 165 fraud URL checker compares the link you paste with the list of fraud websites whose domains were suspended at the request of Taiwan's National Police Agency (165 anti-fraud hotline). The list currently holds 86,068 domains, most recently updated with entries for 2026-09. A match means 165 has listed the site as a fraud website; no match does not mean the site is safe.
- Source
- Taiwan National Police Agency, "165反詐騙諮詢專線_遭停止解析涉詐網站" (fraud websites with suspended domain resolution; government open data dataset 176455)
- Domains on the list (active)
- 86,068
- Latest month listed
- 2026-09
- Last synced by HowBridge
- 2026-10-23 05:20 (Taiwan time, UTC+8; synced automatically every day at 05:20)
What is Taiwan's 165 fraud website list?
The 165 fraud website list is data published by Taiwan's National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior: under Article 42 of Taiwan's Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, the police order internet service providers to stop resolving fraud websites, so they no longer open when accessed from Taiwan. The agency publishes the list on Taiwan's government open data platform (dataset 176455) with the month listed, the domain and the site type. The agency marks it as irregularly updated; HowBridge syncs it automatically every day at 05:20 Taiwan time.
Limits to know before you use it
- Only domains the police have already acted on are included. Scam sites change addresses often, so new ones may not be listed yet.
- Only the domain is compared, not the path after it. All URLs under the same domain give the same result.
- When a parent domain is listed, its subdomains also count as a match (if abc.cc is listed, shop.abc.cc matches); the reverse is not true.
- Domains the police remove from the list are also removed when HowBridge syncs, and no longer show as a match.
- A match means "listed by 165 as a fraud website". It is a police action record, not HowBridge's judgement.
How to spot a suspicious website: 5 self-checks
If a site is not on the list, check these 5 points yourself. Stop if anything looks wrong:
- Compare the domain letter by letterFake sites often use look-alike names, such as adding "-tw" to a brand name or switching to endings like .shop or .top. Compare the domain in the address bar with the brand's official domain character by character.
- Type the address yourself instead of tapping linksFor "pay a fee" or "parcel problem" links in text messages, social media DMs or unknown emails, open the official app or type the official address yourself to check.
- Look at how you are asked to payRequests to transfer to a personal account, pay with a convenience store code, buy gift points or crypto, or "cancel a setting" at an ATM are all high-risk signs.
- Prices and pressurePrices far below the market, countdown timers pushing you to pay now, and "only 1 left" are common tactics.
- Can you find who runs the site?Legitimate sites usually show a company name, registration number and support channels. Be careful with sites that only offer a personal LINE account and no company details.
For more scam tactics, see the Taiwan National Police Agency's 165 anti-fraud website (in Chinese).
Already paid or entered your data?
The sooner you act, the better the chance of stopping the payment. Follow these 4 steps:
1Call 165 or 110 (in Taiwan)
165 is Taiwan's National Police Agency anti-fraud hotline for advice and help with reporting. If you are being scammed right now or need police on site, call 110.
2Contact your bank or card issuer
For card payments, call the issuing bank to block the card and ask about a dispute. For bank transfers, contact the sending bank immediately and explain that it was fraud.
3Keep the evidence
Save the URL, screenshots of the site, chat history, payment or transfer records and the transaction time. Do not delete the conversation.
4Change your passwords
Change any password you entered on the suspicious site on the real official website, and turn on two-step verification.
Fake parcel and shipping messages
While your online orders are on the way, scammers often pretend to be couriers, freight forwarders or customs, and ask you to tap a link to pay because of a "wrong address" or "unpaid shipping or duty". HowBridge never asks you to pay through any other website. Only pay on 0523.tw or in the HowBridge app.
- For 8 common cross-border shopping scams and payment protection, see the cross-border shopping fraud guide.
- To spot text messages pretending to be customs asking for tax, see how to spot customs scam texts.
- To see what the real HowBridge LINE official account looks like, see our verified LINE official account.
FAQ
If a site is not found, does that mean it is safe?
No. The 165 list only includes domains the police have already had suspended, and new scam sites may not be listed yet. If nothing is found, use the 5 self-checks on this page, and in Taiwan call 165 if in doubt.
How often is the 165 list updated?
Taiwan's National Police Agency marks the dataset as irregularly updated on the government open data platform. HowBridge syncs it automatically every day at 05:20 Taiwan time, and this page shows the last sync time and the number of domains.
Can I paste a full URL or a whole text message?
Yes. The first domain in what you paste is checked, and the path after it does not change the result. Full-width characters and Chinese full stops are converted to normal URL format first. You can paste up to 2000 characters.
What should I do if a site is on the list?
Do not pay or enter personal data on that site. If you already did, call the 165 anti-fraud hotline or 110 right away in Taiwan, and keep the URL, screenshots, chats and payment records.
Which is the official HowBridge website?
The official HowBridge website is 0523.tw. HowBridge never asks you to pay through any other website; only pay on 0523.tw or in the HowBridge app. Sites with 0523 or howbridge in the address that are not 0523.tw are not HowBridge. Exception: howbridge.cn is HowBridge's registered domain for mainland China and is never used to collect payments.
Does HowBridge keep the URLs I check?
What you check is not saved in the HowBridge database and is not linked to any member account. When a listed fraud website is found, the system only logs that listed domain to count matches. As with every web request, the web server's access log keeps the requested URL for about 30 days.
📅 Last updated 2026-10-23 · Source: Taiwan National Police Agency (165)