The Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau has revealed that one of its employees was tricked by a fake police officer into divulging information on more than 250 individual and corporate taxpayers.
The bureau said that on Monday the employee received a call on the employee’s personal mobile phone at work from a man identifying himself as an officer of the Chiba Prefectural Police, saying that the employee had come under suspicion during an investigation.
The man showed the employee, aged under 30, on a video call what appeared to be a police ID and badge and directed the employee to send work-related documents to him.
The employee then took more than 100 photos of information and other details regarding the individuals and companies on the screen of a work computer and sent them using a mobile phone to the man.
Divulged were details including the names and addresses of a total of 259 individuals and companies, including details such as tax filing amounts and business descriptions. The employee ended the call about two hours after it started when a co-worker became suspicious and intervened.
The employee is said to have described being shaken by receiving a call from the man claiming to be a police officer and his knowing the employee’s full name, and did as directed to prove no wrongdoing.
The bureau apologized to both the individuals and companies concerned and urged caution to avoid becoming a victim.
Yamamoto Manabu, head of general affairs at the bureau, said at a news conference on Wednesday that he deeply apologizes, as an incident causing a loss of confidence in tax administration has occurred. He said that the bureau will establish countermeasures to prevent a recurrence and ensure appropriate controls for taxpayer information.
AloJapan.com