Wrong moral compass breeds serious scams

The news that 77 Chinese, including 45 Taiwan residents, were repatriated from Africa last week for alleged telecom fraud has shocked people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

According to the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, wire fraud criminals from Taiwan swindle in excess of 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) each year from Chinese mainland victims.

The swindlers, most of whom operate out of the African nation of Kenya, cause untold suffering to the victims by stealing their hard-earned money or life savings. Some victims become bankrupt, others commit suicide.