Special fraud (tokushu sagi) is an umbrella term for crimes where perpetrators use phone calls, emails, or SMS to defraud victims without face-to-face contact. Japan's National Police Agency classifies special fraud into 10 types: impersonation ("ore-ore") fraud, bank deposit fraud, fictitious billing fraud, tax refund fraud, advance-fee loan fraud, financial product fraud, gambling fraud, dating service fraud, cash-card switching theft, and other special fraud. The most typical schemes, exemplified by impersonation fraud, have also been collectively known as furikome sagi (transfer fraud).
The term "furikome sagi" (transfer fraud) was coined by police in 2004, but as methods expanded beyond bank transfers to include cash handoffs, electronic money, and cryptocurrency, "special fraud" became the official umbrella term in 2013. Criminal groups operate with specialized roles: "kake-ko" (callers), "uke-ko" (cash/card collectors), and "dashi-ko" (ATM withdrawers).
According to NPA statistics, approximately 21,000 special fraud cases were reported in 2024, with total damages reaching about 71.9 billion yen. In 2024, victims aged 65 or older accounted for 13,738 cases, or 65.4% of recognized cases excluding corporate victims. Since 2023, the NPA has also folded SNS-based investment scams and SNS-based romance scams into its tallies, reflecting how the range of targeted victims has widened. Caller ID spoofing and voice cloning technology have made these schemes increasingly sophisticated.
The primary defense is not answering unknown calls. Keep voicemail always on, verify callers with Number Display, and establish code words with family members. Report suspicious calls to police consultation dial (#9110) or consumer hotline (188). See furikome-sagi prevention guide for current tactics and countermeasures.