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: the four furikome sagi categories (impersonation, fictitious billing, advance-fee loan, and tax refund fraud), plus financial product fraud, gambling fraud, romance fraud, cash card theft fraud, and others.
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 20,000 special fraud cases were reported in 2024, with total damages reaching about 45 billion yen. While roughly 70% of victims are aged 65 or older, investment and side-job scams targeting people in their 20s-30s are increasing. 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 fraud prevention guide for current tactics and countermeasures.