Special fraud damages in Japan rise as impersonation scams increase

Special fraud cases in Japan are seeing significant financial losses. In Fukui Prefecture, fraud damages from January to August reached approximately 1.49 billion yen, surpassing the total recorded for the entire previous year. The Fukui Prefectural Police reported 160 recognized cases, with fake police officer scams being a major driver, accounting for 577.1 million yen across 36 incidents.

Other prevalent methods include SNS-based romance scams, totaling 370.45 million yen, and SNS investment scams involving impersonation of famous entrepreneurs, totaling 367.83 million yen. Victims in the 60s age group are the most frequent targets, often involving retirees looking to increase their assets.

In Akita Prefecture, an 80-year-old woman in Daisen City was defrauded of 5 million yen. The perpetrator reportedly impersonated the ‘Akita Prefectural Crime Prevention Association,’ claiming the victim was a member and attempting to manipulate her into introducing other individuals to the scheme.