The Mainichi Shimbun reported on the 29th that Japan’s Osaka Prefecture (府) is trying to enact special measures such as “banning mobile phone calls for the elderly while operating ATMs” to reduce voice phishing damage.
Yoshimura Hirofumi, governor of Osaka Prefecture, said, “This is the money I have saved up for my retirement. I want to prevent people from getting scammed.” In Osaka Prefecture, a special fraudulent activity occurs, with an average of 10 million yen per day.
The Osaka Prefecture will set up a deliberation council by experts and others to submit an amendment to the “Building a Safe Village” ordinance to the deputy meeting to be held in February 2025.New additional special fraud measures include “no mobile phone calls for the elderly in front of ATMs,” “mandating police reporting by financial institutions that have confirmed unnatural withdrawals,” “mandating purpose confirmation for customers who purchase high-priced prepaid cards at convenience stores,” “restrictions on transfer of senior accounts,” and “announcement of damaged stores or ATM installation sites.”However, Mainichi pointed out that there are many tasks to be solved, such as who will not be allowed to make calls at an unmanned ATM and how to judge whether an elderly person is present or not. The Osaka Prefecture will not come up with a penalty regulation.SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
