Japan police issue warnings over rising impersonation scams

Police departments in Japan are issuing warnings following a series of fraudulent phone calls targeting residents in Kumamoto and Fukuoka prefectures.

In Kumamoto, residents of Uki City have reported receiving calls from individuals claiming to be from the Kumamoto Prefectural Police Investigation Division 2. These callers have demanded that victims travel to distant police stations, such as those in Aichi Prefecture, for questioning. Authorities warn these are precursor calls intended to extract personal information or money.

In Fukuoka, the Iizuka Police Station reported a surge in suspicious calls between August 8 and August 10 in Iizuka City and Katsuragi Town. Scammers have used automated voices claiming telecommunications services will be suspended to solicit personal data. Other callers have impersonated police officers, using numbers starting with ‘+1’ to falsely accuse individuals of involvement in money laundering or fraud conspiracy.