Increase in Special Fraud Losses and the Increasing Sophistication and Heinousness of Criminal Methods
First written in FY2019-Q2. 20 of 38 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2019. Latest entry: 2026-09-30.
Tobila Systems moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2020.
0 other companies' latest entry also says "Materialised".
- FY2026-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「According to data released by the National Police Agency, total losses from fraud and social-media-based investment and romance scams nationwide reached a record ¥325.7 billion in 2025. In particular, fake police officer scams, in which perpetrators pose as police officers or other officials and steal money under the pretext of protecting assets or investigating accounts, have increased sharply. Contact using mobile video calls and messaging apps has also increased, and the methods used are becoming increasingly diverse and sophisticated.」
Total losses, including fraud and social-media-based investment and romance scams, reached a record ¥325.7 billion, while increases in fake police officer scams and methods using video calls and messaging apps were reported. The expansion of losses and the diversification and increasing sophistication of criminal methods have been made concrete. The additional events were described as having actually occurred. External risks in the broad sense were quantified. - FY2025WorsenedAnnual report
「Nationwide losses from fraud in 2025 reached ¥96.5 billion as of the end of September, increasing at a pace that is expected to exceed the previous record high set in 2024. In particular, 'fake police officer scams,' in which perpetrators pose as police officers or other officials and steal money under the pretext of protecting assets or investigating accounts, remain prominent. Their methods are diversifying and becoming increasingly sophisticated, including the misuse of mobile video calls and messaging apps.」
Losses from fraud reached ¥96.5 billion as of the end of September 2025, and were described as increasing at a pace that would exceed the previous record high set in 2024. Fake police officer scams and methods using video calls and messaging apps were also cited, indicating expanding risks in both the scale of losses and the methods used. - FY2023MaterialisedAnnual report
「In Japan, in addition to conventional bank-transfer scams, methods are constantly changing, including 'support scams' that use fake warning screens purporting to show a computer virus infection to create anxiety, induce victims to contact a fraudulent support desk and steal their money, as well as a sharp increase in fraud using international telephone numbers. Countermeasures are urgently needed.」
The sharp increase in support scams and fraud using international telephone numbers was described in specific terms, demonstrating changes in criminal methods and the resulting risk of losses as actual events. - FY2023-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「According to the National Police Agency, losses from fraud in 2022 increased year on year for the first time in 8 years. … The sharp increase in nuisance calls from overseas to Japan following the start of the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station attracted significant attention as a social issue. Losses from phishing scams, known as 'smishing,' that misuse smartphone and mobile SMS to steal credit card and financial-account information also increased, and … the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated.」
Losses from fraud increased year on year for the first time in 8 years, while increases in nuisance calls from overseas and losses from smishing were also reported. The expansion of crime risks and the increasing sophistication of criminal methods were described more specifically than before. - FY2023-Q2MaterialisedAnnual report
「In Japan, in addition to conventional bank-transfer scams, fraud reflecting social conditions has occurred, including donation scams impersonating support for Ukraine and investment scams targeting younger people. 'Appointment calls' that obtain information about a target's assets before the crime, 'dark recruitment' posts on social media seeking participants in fraud, and the existence of large-scale fraud groups based overseas attracted significant attention as social issues. Phishing scams that misuse smartphone and mobile SMS to steal personal information such as credit card details, known as 'smishing,' are also increasing, and the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including impersonating telecommunications carriers and the National Tax Agency.」
Specific incidents involving investment scams targeting younger people, appointment calls, dark recruitment and large-scale fraud groups based overseas were described. The report also continued to show that smishing is increasing and that the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated. - FY2023-Q1MaterialisedAnnual report
「In addition to conventional bank-transfer scams, fraud reflecting social conditions has occurred, including donation scams impersonating support for Ukraine and fundraising scams impersonating donations for the major earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. The arrest of a large-scale fraud group based overseas also attracted significant public attention. Phishing scams that misuse smartphone and mobile SMS to steal personal information such as credit card details, known as 'smishing,' are also increasing, and the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including impersonating telecommunications carriers and the National Tax Agency.」
The report described scams related to support for Ukraine and the major earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, as well as the arrest of a large-scale fraud group based overseas. It also continued to show that smishing is increasing and that the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated. - FY2022WorsenedAnnual report
「Phishing scams that misuse smartphones and mobile SMS to steal personal information such as credit card details, known as 'smishing,' are also increasing, and the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated.」
Smishing was described as being on an upward trend, with the risks from fraud and phishing continuing and the scams also increasing and becoming more sophisticated. - FY2022-Q3MaterialisedAnnual report
「These fraud cases reflect social conditions, and the methods used are becoming increasingly sophisticated.」
The occurrence of COVID-19 vaccine-related refund scams, smishing and donation scams impersonating support for Ukraine, along with numerous and significant losses, continues to be reported. - FY2022-Q2MaterialisedAnnual report
「In Japan, scams targeting new adults following the lowering of the age of adulthood, refund scams exploiting COVID-19 vaccines, phishing scams known as smishing that steal personal information, and donation scams impersonating support for Ukraine have occurred, resulting in numerous and significant losses. These cases show that fraudulent methods reflect social conditions and are becoming increasingly sophisticated.」
The occurrence of scams related to the lowering of the age of adulthood, COVID-19 vaccines, smishing and support for Ukraine, along with the resulting numerous and significant losses, was described in specific terms. - FY2022-Q1MaterialisedAnnual report
「Scams exploiting COVID-19 vaccines, support scams displaying fake warnings on computers, and phishing scams known as smishing that steal personal information have occurred, resulting in significant losses. These cases show that fraudulent methods reflect social conditions and are becoming increasingly sophisticated.」
The occurrence and resulting losses from vaccine-related scams, support scams and smishing were described in specific terms, continuing to demonstrate the increasing sophistication of fraudulent methods as an actual event. - FY2021MaterialisedAnnual report
「When the Tokyo Olympics opened in July 2021, phishing scams emerged that impersonated Olympic live broadcasts and attempted to induce victims to enter their credit card information. In the second half of 2021, there were also significant losses from phishing scams in which victims received SMS messages on their smartphones and had gift cards and other items purchased fraudulently. These cases show that fraudulent methods reflect social conditions and are becoming increasingly sophisticated.」
Actual cases included phishing scams impersonating Olympic broadcasts and scams that induced victims to make unauthorized purchases of gift cards through SMS, demonstrating the increasing sophistication of fraudulent methods. - FY2021-Q3MaterialisedAnnual report
「As COVID-19 vaccinations gathered pace, suspicious calls demanding money under the pretext of preferential treatment in vaccination priority or arranging vaccination appointments occurred across Japan. Phishing scams also emerged that impersonated live Olympic broadcasts and attempted to induce victims to enter their credit card information. These cases show that fraudulent methods reflect social conditions and are becoming increasingly sophisticated.」
Specific examples of suspicious calls and phishing scams related to COVID-19 vaccinations and the Tokyo Olympics were described, demonstrating the increasing sophistication of fraudulent methods. - FY2021-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「Meanwhile, the number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS targeting smartphone users, as well as the resulting losses, has remained high. In particular, the global spread of COVID-19 has recently been accompanied by a sharp increase in related scams, and crimes that exploit people's anxiety and threaten safe and secure lives continue unabated.」
The number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS, as well as the resulting losses, remained high, and the sharp increase in COVID-19-related scams continued to be reported. - FY2021-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「Meanwhile, the number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS targeting smartphone users, as well as the resulting losses, has remained high. More recently, scams associated with COVID-19 have increased sharply, and crimes that exploit people's anxiety and threaten safe and secure lives continue unabated.」
The number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS, as well as the resulting losses, remained high, and the sharp increase in COVID-19-related scams continued to be reported. - FY2020RestatedAnnual report
「Meanwhile, in 2020, the number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS targeting smartphone users, as well as the resulting losses, remained high. More recently, scams associated with COVID-19 have increased sharply, and crimes that exploit people's anxiety and threaten safe and secure lives continue unabated.」
Fraud using telephone calls and SMS remained at a high level, and the sharp increase in COVID-19-related scams continued to be reported. - FY2020-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「Against this backdrop, the number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS targeting smartphone users, as well as the resulting losses, has remained high. In particular, the global spread of COVID-19 has recently been accompanied by a sharp increase in related scams, and crimes that exploit people's anxiety and threaten safe and secure lives continue unabated.」
Fraud using telephone calls and SMS remained at a high level, and the sharp increase in COVID-19-related scams continued to be reported. - FY2020-Q2MaterialisedAnnual report
「Against this backdrop, the number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS targeting smartphone users, as well as the resulting losses, has remained high. In particular, the global spread of COVID-19 has recently been accompanied by a sharp increase in related scams, and crimes that exploit people's anxiety and threaten safe and secure lives continue unabated.」
Fraud using telephone calls and SMS remained at a high level, while the sharp increase in COVID-19-related scams was described as an actual event. - FY2020-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「Against this backdrop, the number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS targeting smartphone users, as well as the resulting losses, has remained high. More recently, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and local governments have issued warnings about scams related to COVID-19, and crimes that exploit people's anxiety and threaten safe and secure lives continue unabated.」
As fraud using telephone calls and SMS remains at a high level, COVID-19-related scams have emerged as a new type of crime, broadening the scope of the risks. - FY2019WorsenedAnnual report
「The number of reported fraud cases involving telephone calls and SMS targeting smartphone users has reached a record high. Demand continues to grow for protecting family members and friends from increasingly frequent and sophisticated fraud that exploits the convenience of these technologies, and for communicating with them in a safe and secure environment.」
The number of reported fraud cases was described as reaching a record high, strengthening awareness of the risk of more frequent, sophisticated and serious crimes using telephone calls and SMS. Losses were reported at approximately ¥38.2 billion in 2018. - FY2019-Q3Losses declined but remained highAnnual report
「Losses from fraud were approximately ¥36.3 billion in 2018. Although the amount of losses itself has declined since 2014, the number of reported cases exceeded 16,000, and both the number of cases and losses remained high. In recent years, criminal methods have become increasingly sophisticated and serious, including 'appointment-call robberies,' in which perpetrators gather information about victims in advance by telephone or other means before breaking into their homes to steal money and valuables, and schemes that use mobile short message services (SMS/MMS) to pose as delivery companies or online service providers and skillfully direct victims to fraudulent websites closely resembling legitimate ones to steal personal information. Interest in measures against fraud therefore remains high.」
Losses declined from approximately ¥39 billion in 2017, as previously reported, to approximately ¥36.3 billion in 2018, while the number of reported cases remained high at more than 16,000, and concerns about increasingly sophisticated and serious criminal methods continued. - FY2019-Q2First statedAnnual report
「According to the National Police Agency, losses from fraud, including the so-called 'It's me' scam, fictitious-billing scams and refund scams, reached approximately ¥39 billion in 2017. As Japan's aging society is expected to become increasingly serious, there are concerns that the number of victims will continue to grow. In recent years, criminal methods have become increasingly sophisticated and serious, including 'appointment-call robberies,' in which perpetrators gather information about victims in advance by telephone or other means before breaking into their homes to steal money and valuables, and schemes that use mobile short message services (SMS/MMS) to pose as delivery companies or online service providers and skillfully direct victims to fraudulent websites closely resembling legitimate ones to steal personal information. Interest in measures against fraud therefore remains high.」
The company quantified losses from fraud and described the growth in the number of victims and the increasing sophistication and seriousness of criminal methods as external risks.