Fake Cop Scam Exposed: Reporter Reveals the Tactics Behind a 170 Billion Yen Fraud Wave

A spoofed (impersonation) call received by the reporter

One day in June, a FRIDAY Digital reporter received a phone call on their mobile. The display showed a number starting with +80—an overseas number. When the reporter answered, a man claiming to be from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Second Investigation Division introduced himself. After confirming the reporter’s surname, he said:

“We’re conducting a joint investigation into a fraud case with the [reporter’s hometown] prefectural police. Does anything come to mind?”

When the reporter replied that they had no idea what he was talking about, the man continued:

“That’s strange. There’s a possibility that your bank account has been used in a crime. We need you to come to [reporter’s hometown] prefectural police for the investigation.”

When the reporter questioned why it was necessary to travel to a distant prefecture for a voluntary interview, the caller insisted, “This is a top-secret investigation, and you’re also a subject of the investigation,” repeatedly stoking anxiety.

After a while, the man said, “I’ll transfer you to the officer in charge at the prefectural police. Please hold,” and a different man came on the line. He said urgently, “Your account was used in the fraud case known as △△, and your name has come up as a key person of interest. We need you to appear at the prefectural police today.”

What made the scam particularly clever was the use of local dialect and expressions specific to the reporter’s hometown, along with a heavy emphasis on phrases designed to instill fear. The way they used terminology that would resonate with someone who had some legal or investigative knowledge was especially crafty.

The caller also said, “If you refuse to appear, you may be detained. Is that acceptable to you?” Of course, you cannot be detained for refusing a voluntary interview. At this point, the reporter became certain it was a scam.

Saying, “It’s difficult to travel that far for a voluntary interview. What are the exact charges that would justify detention?” the reporter pushed back. The caller then attempted to collect personal information, saying, “For the investigation, please tell us your full name and date of birth.”

The reporter replied, “If my name has come up as a person of interest, you should already know my full name. I also have contacts in the [reporter’s hometown] police. Could you please give me your full name, rank, and department?”

Upon this counterattack, the caller snapped, “So you’re okay with being arrested, then?” and became agitated. After some continued back-and-forth, the call was eventually disconnected.

Heightened vigilance by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police

In April of last year, in response to the surge in scam calls from individuals posing as police officers, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police established a “Special Fraud Countermeasures Headquarters.” According to their official website, as of the end of March in fiscal year 2025 (Reiwa 7), total damages from special fraud cases amounted to 27.6 billion yen, with 17.1 billion yen of that stemming from scams involving impersonators claiming to be police officers. The damage has been increasing year by year, prompting the police to heighten their alert level.

While police impersonation scams are a classic tactic, actually experiencing one firsthand revealed how well-crafted the script was and how convincing the scam caller’s performance could be.

In hindsight, there were many red flags—the fact that the call came from an international number, the incorrect use of legal terms like detention, and the excessive sharing of supposed investigation details—but the intensity of the delivery was enough to make one feel anxious. It was easy to understand how someone could be fooled under pressure.

When a FRIDAY Digital reporter previously interviewed a leader of a special fraud group for a different story, the man said:

“Despite all the public warnings and exposure of scam tactics, why do people still fall for it? It’s because there’s a certain number of people who believe, ‘I would never be tricked.’ Those people, full of pride, are the easiest marks.”

Don’t answer suspicious calls. It’s a simple rule—but experiencing this firsthand drove home the fact that it’s the most effective countermeasure.