The Japan Financial Services Agency published an alert on escalating losses from special fraud and SNS-based investment and romance scams, calling on financial institutions to reinforce measures to prevent the unauthorised use of savings accounts. To support implementation and improve effectiveness, it also produced public awareness videos with the National Police Agency and industry associations to encourage customer understanding and cooperation. Requested measures include stronger internet banking controls, customer verification when potential fraud is detected, and faster actions to suspend withdrawals, freeze accounts and cancel contracts. The awareness materials cover an internet banking countermeasures edition and an anti-fraud edition, each available in full-length (about 80 seconds) and digest (about 30 seconds) versions, including smartphone-optimised clips; the FSA also linked to earlier related communications on strengthening controls including for corporate accounts, associated flyers and cross-sector publicity to deter account trading.
Japan Financial Services Agency 2026-04-16
Japan Financial Services Agency urges financial institutions to strengthen safeguards against unauthorised use of savings accounts and releases public awareness videos
The Japan Financial Services Agency issued an alert on rising losses from special fraud and social media-based investment and romance scams, urging financial institutions to strengthen controls against unauthorised use of savings accounts. It called for enhanced internet banking controls, more robust customer verification when potential fraud is detected, and faster suspension of withdrawals and account freezes, supported by new joint public awareness videos with the National Police Agency and industry associations.