Japan police warn of rising telephone-based fraud and theft

Police in Japan are issuing warnings following recent incidents of telephone-based fraud involving the theft of cash and personal information.

In Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, a 43-year-old man was arrested after using a stolen cash card to withdraw money from an ATM at a commercial facility in Owada. The incident is being investigated by the Ichikawa Police Station as theft related to telephone fraud.

In a separate major incident in Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture, a 76-year-old man was defrauded of 33.5 million yen. Scammers posing as postal workers and police officers manipulated the victim via telephone and social media, claiming his personal information had been leaked. The victim was instructed to leave cash in a public restroom and transfer funds to specific accounts. Authorities advise the public to immediately hang up if callers mention money laundering, arrest warrants, or investigations via social media.