To prevent scammers from using schemes such as “fake investments” to lure property owners into mortgaging their real estate, thereby causing financial losses, the Ministry of the Interior is actively promoting the“Cadastral Change Instant Alert Service (地籍異動即時通服務).” Whenever transactions such as sales, mortgage registrations, or other registrations are processed for property under a person’s name, the system immediately sends an SMS or email to both the applicant and one designated secondary contact. This enables property owners to monitor real-time updates on any cadastral changes, thereby strengthening property security.
This service is particularly valuable for elderly family members who live alone or are unfamiliar with digital technology, as they are more vulnerable to scams. By designating a trusted child or relative as the secondary contact, alerts can be shared instantly so that loved ones can jointly safeguard the property. Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-Fang (劉世芳) urges the public to make full use of this service: a little extra vigilance can go a long way in protecting the real estate of seniors.
According to the Ministry, as of the end of June 2025, more than 570,000 people nationwide have subscribed to the alert service. There have already been cases in which scams were successfully prevented. For instance, the Gueiren Land Office of Tainan City (臺南市歸仁地政事務所) recently received an application from a 77-year-old man to register a mortgage. Since he had already subscribed to the alert service and had designated his child’s mobile number as the secondary contact, his child immediately received a notification from the land office. Realizing that their father was likely being targeted by an investment scam, they intervened and successfully requested the termination of the mortgage registration process.
The Ministry explains that there are three ways to apply for the alert service: by visiting any land office in person; by applying online through the Department of Land Administration’s Digital Counter (數位櫃臺) website using a Citizen Digital Certificate (自然人憑證) or MOEACA ID card (工商憑證); or by submitting an application concurrently with the ownership transfer registration for newly acquired property. In addition to providing the applicant’s own contact information, one trusted friend or family member may be designated as a secondary contact. If any of the 12 types of property registrations—such as sales, auctions, mortgage registrations, or title reissues—are filed under the applicant’s name, the land office will immediately send an SMS or email notification to both contacts.
To encourage wider participation, the Ministry has partnered with the Land Administration Agent Association and the Chinese Association of Real Estate Brokers to promote the service. At the same time, the Ministry reminds citizens that land administration agencies will never proactively send text messages inviting people to apply for the alert service. For any application-related inquiries, citizens are encouraged to contact their local land office. Together, we can better protect the real estate security of both ourselves and our elderly loved ones.
Sources: Ministry of the Interior
