April 27, 2024 at 01:18PM
Japanese police in Fukui prefecture are combatting online scams targeting elderly by placing dummy payment cards in convenience stores. Labeled “Virus Trojan Horse Removal Payment Card” and “Unpaid Bill Late Fee Payment Card,” these alert mechanisms warn elders seeking payment cards at instructions of fraudsters. This initiative aims to identify and assist scam victims, contributing to a $7.5 million loss prevention.
Based on the meeting notes, the Echizen Police in the Fukui prefecture of Japan has implemented a creative strategy to protect the elderly from tech support and unpaid money fraud scams. They have placed dummy payment cards labeled “Virus Trojan Horse Removal Payment Card” and “Unpaid Bill Late Fee Payment Card” in 34 local convenience stores. The purpose of these cards is to serve as an alert mechanism to warn elder victims seeking payment cards at the instructions of fraudsters. Store employees have been briefed about the purpose of the dummy cards and are instructed to explained to customers attempting to purchase them that they had been targeted in a scam. This program has already helped at least two elderly individuals who were deceived by tech support scams. The police also reward employees who assist in the program, and it allows law enforcement to identify victims and further investigate the scams. The initiative is a proactive and effective approach to combatting online fraud targeting the elderly in the Fukui prefecture, which suffered significant financial losses due to various forms of fraud, including investment scams.