How to Report a Scam in Japan (and Recover Your Money)
Call 110 or the police advice line #9110, and tell your bank immediately to freeze the recipient account. Japan's Furikome Fraud Victim Recovery Act lets banks freeze a fraud account on the spot and return remaining funds to victims.
Quick answer: Call 110 (urgent) or the police advice line #9110, and tell your bank immediately to freeze the recipient account. Japan's Furikome Fraud Victim Recovery Act lets a bank freeze a fraud account on the spot — no court order — and pay remaining funds back to victims.
What to do in 3 steps
- Call your bank now. Ask them to freeze the recipient account under the Damage Recovery Benefit Act — banks can act instantly, with no court order, while money remains.
- Report to police. 110 if it just happened; #9110 for advice. Cyber cases are handled by your prefectural police cybercrime desk (npa.go.jp/bureau/cyber/soudan.html).
- Get consumer help. For fake shops or consumer-contract scams, call the Consumer Hotline 188, which connects you to your local consumer affairs center.
How recovery actually works
Once a bank freezes a suspected criminal account, it applies through the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan to extinguish the holder's rights to the funds; verified victims then claim a "damage recovery benefit" during a published window. If less money remains than victims lost, payouts are pro-rated. The catch: scammers usually drain accounts within hours, so recovery only works if you call fast enough that funds are still there.
What to have ready
- Your transfer details: date, time, amount, your account, and the recipient's bank, branch and account name
- The scammer's phone numbers, email, LINE/SNS IDs and any website or app
- Screenshots of messages, the ad or post, and payment confirmations
- An interpreter or Japanese-speaking helper — many hotlines are Japanese-only
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call after a scam in Japan? 110 if urgent, or #9110 for police advice; 188 for consumer scams.
Can I get my money back? Yes, if the fraud account is frozen while funds remain — through the Furikome Victim Recovery Act, often pro-rated.
Do I need to report in Japanese? Mostly yes — arrange an interpreter or a Japanese-speaking helper.