(Mainichi)
SAPPORO — Unabated telecom “special” fraud and social media-based investment and romance scams had resulted in some 1.04 billion yen (about $6.61 million) in damages in Hokkaido over the first two months of 2026, investigative sources revealed March 9.
This is an increase of some 700 million yen (roughly $4.44 million) compared to the same period last year. About 30% of the losses were attributed to “fake police scams,” where individuals impersonate people such as police officers to fraudulently obtain money under the guise of investigations.
According to the sources, the 67 special fraud cases recorded in January-February this year netted 466 million yen (around $2.96 million) — a jump of 346 million yen from the first two months of 2025. Losses from the 40 cases of social media-based investment and romance scams hit 575 million yen (approx. $3.65 million) — a 343 million yen rise.
Among special fraud cases, the 21 fake police scams recorded accounted for some 300 million yen (about $1.9 million) in total damages. The largest single loss amounted to 77 million yen (roughly $489,000), involving a woman in her 60s in Sapporo’s Chuo Ward, who was deceived by a man claiming to be an officer from Osaka Prefectural Police’s second investigation division, who told her, “We need to check if the money in your account is related to a crime.”
In 2025, total damages from special fraud and social media-based investment and romance scams in Hokkaido reached 5.13 billion yen (about $32.56 million). Hokkaido Prefectural Police are urging residents to actively use the consultation hotline “#9110” and to remain vigilant.
(Japanese original by Yukika Wada, Hokkaido News Department)
AloJapan.com