Police in Japan to share data on scam accounts with financial firms
Losses from special fraud nationwide are on track to exceed last year's record high, the National Police Agency said.
The National Police Agency of Japan announced an initiative on Thursday to share data on bank accounts used in scams with financial institutions across the country. This move comes as losses from special fraud continue to mount, reaching ¥261 billion from January to September, a ¥48.3 billion increase compared to the previous year and potentially surpassing last year's record high. Social media-based investment scams and fraud schemes impersonating police officers have been particularly common.
Under the new initiative, the NPA will request financial institutions to promptly report customers who have transferred money to these scam accounts. The goal is to identify potential fraud victims early and enable police intervention to prevent further losses. The NPA will compile a list of bank accounts identified by prefectural police departments as receiving funds from fraud victims and share this information through a file-sharing system with 807 financial institutions that have signed agreements with the agency.
When a financial institution's transfer records indicate a customer has sent money to one of these scam accounts, the institution will report the customer's name, address, and other relevant information to the NPA. Police officers will then promptly meet with the individual to warn them and confirm if they have been defrauded, as the sender may be an unidentified victim.
This new system aims to establish a coordinated approach among financial institutions nationwide, with megabanks and online banks also participating in the framework.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
