Fake Police and Official Scams in Japan
Ore ore sagi (it's me fraud) and kanreisha sagi (related-person fraud) calls impersonating police, prosecutors, or family members to steal cash or bank transfers from Japanese victims, especially the elderly.
Part of: Fake Police Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Japan's most notorious domestic phone fraud — ore ore sagi (オレオレ詐欺) — involves callers impersonating a family member in distress (often a son or grandson) followed by a police or lawyer who demands cash to resolve the fabricated crisis. This scam has been Japan's most reported phone fraud for over two decades, causing billions of yen in annual losses.
A related variant, kanreisha sagi, involves callers impersonating officials — police, prosecutors, or court representatives — who claim the victim's account is implicated in a criminal investigation and must be 'secured' by withdrawing cash.
How this scam works on Japan
A victim — often an elderly person — receives a distressed call from someone claiming to be their adult child or grandchild who has been in an accident or arrested. Soon after, a second caller posing as the child's lawyer, a police officer, or court official explains that immediate cash payment is required to settle the matter or prevent prosecution.
The victim is instructed to withdraw a large amount of cash and hand it to a 'collection agent' who arrives at their home, or to transfer via ATM to a specified account. The criminals use urgency, emotional manipulation, and the victim's fear for their family member to prevent rational verification.
Japan Post and major banks run counter-fraud programs where tellers are trained to interrupt large ATM withdrawals by elderly customers and ask about the purpose — a measure that has prevented significant losses but not eliminated the fraud.
Common red flags
- Distressed call from someone claiming to be a family member in trouble
- Follow-up call from a 'lawyer' or 'police officer' requesting urgent cash payment
- Instruction to withdraw cash and hand it to a courier or transfer to an unfamiliar account
- Pressure to act immediately and not to tell other family members
- Caller ID that appears to match a family member's real number (spoofed)
How to protect yourself
- Hang up and call your family member directly on their known number to verify the situation
- Establish a family code word for genuine emergencies that fraudsters would not know
- Discuss ore ore sagi with elderly family members proactively so they recognize the pattern
- Banks and convenience store ATMs often post ore ore sagi warnings — heed them
- If a large ATM withdrawal is questioned by a teller, explain the situation honestly
How to report it
- Report to local police by calling 110 or contacting the nearest Koban (police box)
- File a detailed report at the National Police Agency at npa.go.jp
- Contact Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency at caa.go.jp for fraud victim support
Frequently asked questions
What is ore ore sagi and why is it so effective in Japan?
Ore ore sagi (literally 'it's me, it's me' fraud) exploits the Japanese cultural value of family obligation and the instinct to protect family members from shame or harm. The combination of an emotional first call and an authoritative follow-up creates intense pressure that overrides normal caution. Awareness and family pre-planning (code words, call-back protocols) are the most effective defenses.