1. Recent Developments:
On August 13, a consular email was sent out to raise awareness about phone scams. Despite this, multiple reports of such scams have been received since then. Here are some crucial points to avoid becoming a victim:
• Law enforcement agencies, including the police, never discuss financial matters over the phone.
• Law enforcement agencies never ask for bank account numbers over the phone.
• Law enforcement agencies never conduct video calls via Skype or similar platforms.
• Law enforcement agencies never say things like “Your account has been used by criminals” or “Your account has been used by terrorists” over the phone.
• If someone brings up money or says something like “Your account has been involved in a crime,” “Your account has been used by terrorists,” or “Your account will be frozen if you don’t pay,” you can be sure it’s a scam. You should tell the caller, “If I am under suspicion, please speak with my lawyer first,” and then hang up. If they ask for your lawyer’s name, simply say, “You figure it out,” and end the call.
• Always be aware that you are abroad and remain cautious whenever you receive a phone call.
• In past cases, criminals have become increasingly sophisticated, even spoofing the phone numbers of real police stations to make their scams more convincing.
2. NYPD Insights:
According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), most scam calls are made randomly, without a specific target. However, some cases have been reported where scammers use social media to gather personal information about a particular individual before making the call. While the victims are not limited to a particular race, those who are not fluent in English and may find it difficult to respond are often targeted.
3. Advice to Japanese Residents:
We urge all Japanese residents to recognize the increasing number of phone scams and to be fully aware of their tactics to avoid falling victim. In one recently reported case, a scammer tried to discourage the victim from consulting the consulate, claiming, “The consulate accepts bribes from criminals, so contacting them would play right into the criminals’ hands.” Needless to say, Japanese public institutions would never engage in criminal activities, so do not trust such statements. If you have any concerns, please feel free to consult us at any time.
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