This article was written by the NIPPON VISA & LIFE editorial team based on information from public organizations such as the national government and local governments. Rules and fees may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live.
In Japan, there are scams that use fake emails, text messages (SMS) and phone calls from people pretending to be delivery companies, banks, the police or the Immigration Services Agency (ISA, “Nyukan”) to steal money or personal information. There are three basic rules: do not tap links in emails or text messages, hang up if money comes up in a phone call, and do not decide alone; talk to someone. You can get help from the police consultation line #9110 and the Consumer Hotline 188.
An overview of money and shopping is in The Basics of Money and Shopping in Japan: Bank Accounts, Ways to Pay, Consumption Tax, Smartphone Contracts, Sending Money Abroad and Where to Get Help.
The Short Answer: If Something Seems Suspicious
- Do not tap links in emails or text messages: check whether a message is real through the company’s official website, official app or phone line, which you look up yourself.
- Hang up the phone: if the caller talks about money, bank accounts, your passport or your residence card, hang up first. Do not call back the number the caller gave you.
- Do not send personal information: do not send PINs, passwords, card numbers, or photos of your residence card or passport.
- Talk to someone: talk to family or friends, #9110 (the police) or 188 (Consumer Affairs Centers).
- If you have been cheated, contact them right away: if you transferred money or entered your card number, contact your bank or card company right away and talk to the police.
(Sources: National Police Agency “Measures Against Phishing”, National Police Agency “Beware of Fake Police Scams!”)
Common Tricks
| Who they pretend to be | Examples of messages or calls |
|---|---|
| Delivery companies | “We came to deliver your package, but you were not home, so we took it back. Please check below.” |
| Online shopping sites and flea market apps | “There is a problem with your payment method.” “Unauthorized use has been detected.” |
| Credit card companies and banks | “There was an unauthorized transaction on your card.” “We would like to confirm whether you made this purchase.” |
| Mobile phone companies | “Your payment is overdue.” “Your mobile phone bill has not been paid.” |
| Public organizations | “You have unpaid taxes.” |
| Police officers | “Your bank account is being used for a crime.” “You will be arrested.” |
| Immigration officials | “Your passport may have been used illegally.” “There is a problem with your residence card, so it will become invalid.” |
(Sources: National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (NCAC) “Beware of Fake Text Messages and Emails Pretending to Be Online Shopping Sites, Card Companies, Delivery Companies and Others!”, National Police Agency “Beware of Fake Police Scams!”, Immigration Services Agency “Beware of Suspicious Calls, Emails, etc. from People Claiming to Be Immigration Officials”)
Email and Text Message Scams (Phishing)
Phishing is a trick that uses emails or text messages pretending to be from a real company to lead you to a fake website, where you are made to enter your password or card number.
You Cannot Tell by How It Looks
Government Public Relations Online explains that fake emails, text messages and websites are often exact copies of real ones, so it is hard to judge by how they look. The National Police Agency also explains that the sender’s name and email address can easily be faked. Even a message about “a package you are expecting” or “a service you always use” may be fake.
Examples of information that fake websites make you enter are credit card numbers, bank account numbers, PINs, your address, name, phone number and date of birth, internet banking IDs and passwords, and images of your driver’s license or My Number (Individual Number) card.
(Sources: Government Public Relations Online “How to Protect Yourself from Increasingly Clever Phishing”, National Police Agency “Measures Against Phishing”)
Things You Can Do Every Day
- Do not tap links: open websites in other ways, such as saving the official website as a bookmark (favorite) or using the official app. The National Police Agency explains that financial institutions do not ask for your ID or password by email or text message.
- Keep your smartphone’s operating system (OS) and apps up to date.
- Use your mobile phone company’s function for blocking spam messages.
- Use one-time passwords (passwords that change every time you log in) or fingerprint or face authentication.
- Do not use the same password for many services.
(Sources: Government Public Relations Online “How to Protect Yourself from Increasingly Clever Phishing”, National Police Agency “Measures Against Phishing”)
Phone Scams: Callers Pretending to Be Police Officers or Immigration Officials
Calls from People Pretending to Be Police Officers (Fake Police Scams)
Scams are increasing in which the caller pretends to be a police officer, says things like “your bank account is being used for a crime” or “a mobile phone was illegally contracted in your name,” and makes you transfer money “to protect your assets” or “to check your account.” Sometimes the caller first pretends to be from a phone company or the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and then hands over to someone playing a police officer. They may also invite you to social media or a video call and show you a fake police ID or a fake arrest warrant.
The National Police Agency explains that real police officers do not do the following:
- Tell you by phone that “you are under investigation”
- Contact you through messaging apps
- Send images of a police ID or an arrest warrant
- Suddenly make a video call to your personal smartphone
- Question you over the phone
If even one of these applies, hang up the phone or video call, and go to a nearby police station for advice or call #9110.
(Source: National Police Agency “Beware of Fake Police Scams!”)
Do Not Trust a Call Just Because a Real Police Number Appears on the Screen
There have been cases where criminals make the phone number of a real police headquarters or police station appear on your screen. According to the National Police Agency, international numbers that start with “+” and end in “0110” are also often used. Do not decide that a call is real based only on the number shown.
(Sources: National Police Agency “Beware of Phone Numbers Disguised as the Police!”, National Police Agency “Beware of Fake Police Scams!”)
Calls from People Pretending to Be the Chinese Embassy or Public Security Bureau (Warning from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is warning Chinese people living in Japan to be careful of scam calls from people pretending to be China’s public security bureau, police, embassy and so on. The caller says things like “a bank account or mobile phone in your name is being used for a crime” or “a warrant has been issued for your arrest,” makes you install a messaging app, shows you a fake arrest warrant on a video call, and asks for money. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department advises not to answer calls from hidden or unknown numbers, not to send photos of your ID, and to hang up and talk to friends or the police.
Calls and Emails from People Pretending to Be Immigration Officials
The Immigration Services Agency receives many reports about calls and emails from people pretending to be immigration officials. Examples published by the agency include the following:
- Someone said, “Your passport may have been used illegally,” and asked for the person’s date of birth and address.
- An automated voice said things like “We are keeping an important document” or “It is about to expire” and asked the person to press a number.
- Someone said, “A foreign acquaintance of yours is being held at the airport,” and asked the person to transfer money.
- An automated voice said, “There is a problem with your residence card, so it will become invalid.”
- An email arrived saying that if the person did not submit documents about their assets, their status of residence would be revoked or they would be deported.
The Immigration Services Agency says that it does not make phone calls from overseas numbers starting with “+”. Criminals may also fake real phone numbers or email addresses, so check the caller’s organization and department. If you have questions about your residence procedures, contact the counter of the Regional Immigration Services Bureau, which you look up yourself.
Also Be Careful of Emails About Online Application Fees
From October 1, 2026, fees for applications received through the online residence application system are no longer paid with revenue stamps; they are paid by convenience store payment or bank payment instead. The Immigration Services Agency is concerned that scam emails pretending to be from the agency may appear at the same time, and gives the following information:
- Emails with a payment link are sent only to the email address registered with your user ID for online application.
- The Immigration Services Agency does not ask people who apply online to pay fees by credit card or QR code payment.
- The Immigration Services Agency does not ask for any money other than the permission fees set by law.
How to recognize the sender (the sender’s email address) of a real email is explained on the Immigration Services Agency’s page.
(Source: Immigration Services Agency “About Scams Pretending to Be the Immigration Services Agency”)
Calls from Numbers Starting with “+1” or “+44”
The Ministry of Justice says that if an incoming call shows a number starting with “+1”, “+44” or similar, the number was very likely faked, even if a government office number follows. It advises not to answer and not to call back.
For a landline at home, you can apply to the “International Call Non-Handling Reception Center” (Kokusai Denwa Futoriatsukai Uketsuke Center, phone 0120-210-364) to stop making and receiving international calls free of charge. For mobile phones, the National Police Agency recommends using an app that can block incoming international calls. Some mobile phone companies offer a service to reject incoming international calls, so ask the company you have a contract with.
(Sources: Ministry of Justice “Beware of Calls from People Claiming to Be Ministry of Justice Officials”, National Police Agency “Beware of Phone Numbers Disguised as the Police!”)
When You Are in Trouble: Common Mistakes
What If I Tapped a Link and Installed an App?
According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, there have been cases where people installed a malicious app from a text message saying a delivery company could not deliver a package; the same text message was then sent from their smartphone to many people without their knowledge, and they were charged for communication they did not recognize. The center advises that if you have installed a malicious app, you should put your smartphone in airplane mode and delete (uninstall) the app.
What If I Entered My Password or Card Number?
- Change your password right away. Also change it for every other service where you use the same ID and password.
- For money problems, contact the company. If money was sent without your permission, talk to your bank; if your card was used without your permission, talk to your card company.
- Talk to the police. If you have been cheated, contact a nearby police station or an online reception service such as the one for reporting cybercrime. You can also report the URL of a fake website to “Phishing 110” (the Internet Hotline Center).
(Sources: National Police Agency “Measures Against Phishing”, National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan “Beware of Fake Text Messages and Emails Pretending to Be Online Shopping Sites, Card Companies, Delivery Companies and Others!”)
I Answered the Call. Is It Too Late?
If you realize partway through, hang up then. The Ministry of Justice advises not to give personal information over the phone and not to call back the number in your call history. If you are worried, you can take the mobile phone that received the call to a nearby police station or police box (koban) and ask for advice.
(Source: Ministry of Justice “Beware of Calls from People Claiming to Be Ministry of Justice Officials”)
I Am Going Back to My Country. Can I Give Someone My Bank Account That I Will No Longer Use?
No. The National Police Agency warns that giving your bank account to someone else (transfer) is a crime, whether or not you receive money for it. When you will no longer use an account, for example because you are returning to your country, close the account at the bank. When your address or status of residence changes, you need to tell your bank. The National Police Agency explains that accounts given to other people appear to be used for crimes such as special fraud (tokushu sagi).
How to open an account and how to tell your bank when your address changes are explained in How to Open a Bank Account in Japan: What You Need, Why You May Not Be Able to Open One, and Telling Your Bank When Your Address or Period of Stay Changes.
(Source: National Police Agency “Giving Away Bankbooks and Cash Cards Is a Crime!”)
Where to Get Help
| What you want to ask about | Where to contact |
|---|---|
| Calls or emails that may be scams, or damage from a scam | Police consultation line #9110 (a nationwide number that connects you to the consultation service of a nearby police department) |
| Shopping, contracts, or suspicious messages | Consumer Hotline 188 (a nationwide number that guides you to a nearby Consumer Affairs Center of your city, ward, town, village or prefecture, or a similar service) |
| You have been the victim of a crime and need a police officer to come right away | 110 (the emergency number for the police) |
| Reporting the URL of a fake website | Phishing 110 (Internet Hotline Center) |
Details on where to get help with shopping and contracts are in Where to Get Help With Shopping and Contract Problems in Japan: Consumer Hotline 188, Consumer Affairs Centers and Cooling-off, and how to call 110 is in Disasters and Emergencies in Japan: The Basics | Calling 119 and 110, Earthquakes, Tsunami, Heavy Rain, Volcanoes, Evacuation and Multilingual Information.
(Sources: National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan “Beware of Fake ‘Missed Delivery’ Text Messages Pretending to Be from Delivery Companies”, National Police Agency “Measures Against Phishing”, Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working”)
Primary Sources Used for This Article
- National Police Agency “Measures Against Phishing”
- National Police Agency “Beware of Fake Police Scams!”
- National Police Agency “Beware of Phone Numbers Disguised as the Police!”
- National Police Agency “Giving Away Bankbooks and Cash Cards Is a Crime!”
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department “Beware of Scam Calls from People Claiming to Be the Chinese Embassy or Chinese Public Security Bureau”
- Immigration Services Agency “Beware of Suspicious Calls, Emails, etc. from People Claiming to Be Immigration Officials”
- Immigration Services Agency “About Scams Pretending to Be the Immigration Services Agency”
- Ministry of Justice “Beware of Calls from People Claiming to Be Ministry of Justice Officials”
- Government Public Relations Online “How to Protect Yourself from Increasingly Clever Phishing”
- National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan “Beware of Fake ‘Missed Delivery’ Text Messages Pretending to Be from Delivery Companies”
- National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan “Beware of Fake Text Messages and Emails Pretending to Be Online Shopping Sites, Card Companies, Delivery Companies and Others!”
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
