Japan Scams 2025: The "It's Me" Scam Evolution – When Trust Becomes a Weapon
Executive Summary
Japan is grappling with a record-breaking fraud crisis in 2025, as "special fraud" (tokushu sagi) cases surge to historic levels. What once targeted primarily the elderly has evolved into a sophisticated criminal industry that now victimizes people of all ages, with younger generations increasingly falling prey to AI-enhanced scams. In the first half of 2025 alone, fraud cases reached record highs, with losses climbing to ¥72.1 billion ($480 million) and a disturbing shift toward younger victims. This isn't just about money—it's about an organized crime network that has industrialized deception, recruiting desperate young people as expendable pawns while exploiting Japan's cultural norms of trust and family obligation.
The Crisis at a Glance
2025 Statistics Paint a Dire Picture
Record-Breaking Fraud Wave:
- First Half 2025: Fraud cases hit all-time high
- Annual Losses (2024): ¥72.1 billion ($480 million), up nearly 60% year-over-year
- Elderly Victims: 45% of victims aged 75+ in 2024
- Total Cases (2024): 20,951 individual victims
The Demographic Shift:
- 30s Age Group: Now 21% of all victims (largest demographic)
- 20s Age Group: 19% of victims
- Convicted Scammers: 44% in their 20s, 19% still teenagers
- Average Loss: Varies widely, with some victims losing millions of yen
The data reveals a troubling evolution: what was once predominantly an "elder scam" has transformed into an equal-opportunity crime that targets anyone, regardless of age.
Tokushu Sagi: Japan's Fraud Ecosystem
What is Tokushu Sagi?
Tokushu sagi (特殊詐欺) translates to "special fraud"—an umbrella term for crimes where perpetrators deceive victims without meeting them face-to-face, typically through phone calls, video calls, or electronic communications. These scams exploit trust, fear, and urgency to manipulate victims into handing over cash or valuables.
The Major Types
1. Ore Ore Sagi – The "It's Me" Scam
The most notorious variant, accounting for approximately 24% of all special fraud cases. Here's how it works:
The Classic Playbook:
- Scammer cold-calls victim (usually elderly with landline)
- Opens with: "Ore ore!" ("It's me! It's me!")
- Victim guesses a family member's name
- Scammer adopts that identity
- Fabricates emergency: car accident, business trouble, legal problem
- Demands immediate money transfer
- Insists on secrecy: "Don't tell the family"
Real Case Example: A woman in her 60s in Aichi lost nearly ¥5 million after a scammer posed as her son, claiming he had damaged an expensive company car and needed immediate compensation for repairs. The money was gone before she realized her actual son was safe at home.
2. Cash Card Fraud
The second most common tokushu sagi type involves:
- Scammers posing as police officers, bank employees, or department store staff
- Claiming victim's cash card has been compromised
- Offering to "help" by coming to collect the card
- Swapping real cards with fake ones during the exchange
- Draining accounts immediately
Recent Evolution: In 2025, scammers began using video calls to increase legitimacy, displaying fake police badges and arrest warrants on screen. They create elaborate scenarios where victims are told their mobile phones are being used for criminal activities and must send money to "clear their names."
3. Police Impersonation Scams
As of September 2025, police impersonation has exploded:
- Kyoto Prefecture: Police impersonation losses reached ¥1.45 billion (90% of all special fraud)
- Previous Year Same Period: Only ¥565.42 million
- Nationwide Trend: Increasing across all prefectures
Scammers claim: "You are the subject of an investigation and may be arrested. We are taking custody to investigate your assets." or "Your cash card has been used in criminal activity."
4. Investment and Fictitious Billing Fraud
With the rise of digital finance:
- Fake investment opportunities promising high returns
- Fictitious bills for services never rendered
- Refund fraud claiming victims are owed money but need to pay "processing fees" first
- Support scams involving fake tech support or software upgrades
The Dark Gig Economy: How Young People Become Criminals
The Recruitment Machine
One of the most disturbing aspects of Japan's fraud epidemic is the systematic recruitment of desperate young people into what experts call the "dark gig economy" (yamibaito).
The Telegram Pipeline:
Recruiters use messaging apps like Telegram to target vulnerable youth:
- Job postings promise easy money for simple tasks
- Applicants surrender their Telegram IDs
- Recruiters leverage this information as blackmail material
- They find victims' families and where they live
- Threaten harm if recruits try to escape or disobey
The Statistics are Shocking:
- 2022 Data: 44% of convicted scammers were in their 20s
- Teenage Criminals: 19% of convicted scammers were minors
- Recruitment Method: 40% of convicted minors found "jobs" through friend introductions
- Organized Crime Connection: Lower yakuza syndicates outsource fraud operations to "grey zone groups" who then recruit yamibaito
Case Study: The Nishida Story
When police arrested a young scammer named Nishida, they found:
- Telegram scripts for conducting "It's Me" scams
- Evidence of coercion and threats
- Links to organized recruitment networks
- Proof he was trapped in the system through intimidation
As one underworld expert explained: "In the world of yakuza, scams are considered haji (shame), so the lower syndicates outsource fraud to grey zone groups, which then recruit yamibaito." It's a vast criminal network with greed as the connective glue.
Why Young People Fall for It
Economic Desperation:
- Japan's stagnant economy and high cost of living
- Limited job opportunities for youth
- Student debt and financial pressure
- Promises of quick, easy money
Social Isolation:
- Disconnection from traditional support systems
- Digital recruitment normalizing criminal activity
- Peer pressure and friend referrals
The 2025 Evolution: Video Scams and AI
New Technologies, Old Tricks
Video Call Scams:
In 2025, fraudsters began using video calling technology to add legitimacy:
- Display fake police badges and arrest warrants
- Create elaborate staged "police stations" as backdrops
- Use professional-looking uniforms and props
- Engage in psychological pressure tactics on camera
Beyond Money – Lewd Acts:
Disturbingly, some video scams have evolved beyond financial theft:
- Scammers posing as police demand victims strip naked on video calls
- Claims this is necessary for "investigation purposes"
- Victims are recorded, creating material for further extortion
Auto-Call Systems:
Criminal groups have industrialized their operations:
- Automated calling systems dial thousands of numbers daily
- AI-powered voice modulation makes scammers sound younger or more authoritative
- Scripts optimize for psychological manipulation
- Scale allows targeting of maximum victims with minimum manpower
Why Japan? The Cultural Vulnerability
Family Dynamics and Social Distance
Japan's fraud problem has unique cultural dimensions that make it particularly effective:
Lack of Family Communication:
- Modern Japanese families are "not known for their closeness"
- Children working in Tokyo, parents in countryside
- Infrequent communication creates knowledge gaps
- Scammers exploit assumptions about family members' situations
Trust in Authority:
- Deep cultural respect for police, government officials, and banking institutions
- Victims less likely to question someone claiming authority
- Hierarchical social structure makes it difficult to say "no"
Shame and Saving Face:
- Victims often delay reporting due to embarrassment
- "Don't tell the family" tactic works because of shame culture
- By the time fraud is discovered, money is long gone
The Aging Population Factor:
- 28.4% of Japan's 127 million population is 65+
- Elderly have significant savings (lifetime accumulation)
- Less familiar with modern technology
- Have experienced decades of relatively safe, peaceful society
- 88.2% of special fraud victims (excluding corporate) are elderly
The Victimology Study
Research on Japanese fraud victims reveals:
Psychosocial Characteristics:
- More likely to be female
- Living alone
- Going out less frequently
- Higher confidence that they won't be scammed (ironically)
- Higher scam vulnerability scores overall
The Confidence Paradox:
- Survey: Over 60% of victims claimed confidence they couldn't be scammed
- 90% fell for scams because the caller "sounded like their son or grandchild"
- Emotional response (panic, urgency to help) overrides rational judgment
- 300 victims surveyed were aware of telephone scams yet still fell victim
