When 24-year-old Chang was rushed to the hospital in Taiwan, doctors were horrified — both his legs were frozen solid. He claimed he’d suffered frostbite after riding his scooter on a bitterly cold night. But there was one problem: Taiwan isn’t cold enough for that.

Authorities soon uncovered a chilling truth. Before his supposed “accident,” Chang had taken out multiple high-payout insurance policies — worth over $1 million. Investigators allege that with help from his friend Liao, Chang deliberately placed his legs in a bucket of dry ice for nearly 10 hours, causing catastrophic frostbite that led to both legs being amputated below the knee.

“Taiwan is a subtropical region,” officials noted. “There are no natural cases of frostbite like this.” When they searched Chang’s home, they found the plastic bucket and polystyrene box used to hold the dry ice — solid proof of what they called a “man-made” tragedy.

While the young man successfully claimed a small payout of about $7,000, four other companies refused to pay. Each reported the suspicious case to police. Chang and Liao — once high school friends — now face serious insurance fraud charges.

The story has stunned Taiwan. Many online expressed disbelief that someone would destroy their own body for money. Others felt pity, saying “desperation can make people do unimaginable things.”

Whether greed or despair drove him, Chang’s choice cost him far more than his legs. It cost him his freedom — and his future.