[REVISION HISTORY]

Japan police anti‑scam efforts

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-19 06:42 UTC → 2026-08-24 04:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Japanese police have continued to expand fraud‑prevention activities across the country. In late July 2026, Shizuoka Prefectural Police staged a training drill with employees of Shizuoka Gas, simulating a “fake police” phone scam and teaching participants how to recognise and report the tactic. The exercise also highlighted a recent incident in which a Saitama city councilor was targeted by the same type of call, underscoring the relevance of the threat to both corporate staff and public officials. The following day, the National Police Agency issued a broader public alert in the wake of the 2024 Kumamoto earthquake, warning that scammers were exploiting the disaster by reposting old damage photos, fabricating rescue requests, and distributing QR‑code links to fraudulent donation sites. Police urged residents to verify sources, use official channels, and report suspicious communications, emphasizing that misinformation can impede rescue and relief efforts. By mid-August 2026, authorities reported a rise in specific impersonation tactics in Kumamoto and Fukuoka prefectures. In Kumamoto, residents in Uki City reported calls from individuals claiming to be from the Kumamoto Prefectural Police Investigation Division 2, who demanded victims travel to distant locations, such as Aichi Prefecture, for questioning. In Fukuoka, the Iizuka Police Station noted a surge in automated calls threatening telecommunications suspension, as well as calls from “+1” numbers where individuals impersonate officers to falsely accuse residents of money laundering or fraud conspiracy. ~~Additionally, authorities warned~~ By late August 2026, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan and local officials issued further warnings regarding scams targeting Kumamoto ~~Earthquake relief efforts through door-to-door visits, telephone calls, and social media.~~ earthquake relief. These include ~~scammers posing as municipal officials to solicit cash or goods,~~ door-to-door visits and ~~sophisticated “task scams” on~~ social ~~media. In these latter cases, victims are promised~~ media “task scams,” where hijacked business accounts promise cash-back profits for purchasing products to support disaster areas. Scammers often use small initial payouts to build trust before soliciting larger transfers.

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