New Scam Targets Elderly: Impersonators Pose as Police to Guide Burglars to Valuables

How the Scam Works

In this Tokyo case, the criminal group combined multiple deception tactics. First, someone posing as a postal worker calls asking about sending suspicious mail to Hong Kong. They then tell the victim that "police will call next." When a person claiming to be from the prefectural police calls, they gain trust by saying "we're here to protect you" before asking detailed questions about how and where the victim stores cash and valuables at home.

Under the guise of "crime prevention guidance," the scammers instruct the victim to consolidate their money and valuables in one specific location. In this case, they falsely claimed that "burglars won't look inside refrigerators," convincing the victim to store cash there. The criminals then make daily follow-up calls to confirm where the items are stored and whether anyone is home, gathering information about when the residence will be vacant.

Once they've identified a time when no one is home, actual burglars break in and steal the valuables from the location specified during the "guidance." In the Tokyo case, a home invasion occurred five days after the initial call, and approximately 1 million yen stored in the refrigerator was stolen.

Warning Signs

Never provide personal information to unsolicited callers
Legitimate police or government agencies do not make cold calls asking about valuables and home security arrangements.

Real police conduct in-person crime prevention advice
Police don't gather detailed information about where you keep valuables over the phone. When police offer security guidance, they schedule an appointment first and visit in person.

Instructions to consolidate valuables are a red flag
Legitimate security advice recommends spreading valuables across multiple locations and limiting cash at home. Encouragement to keep everything in one spot is a clear sign of deception.

Back-to-back calls from multiple "agencies" are suspicious
When you receive consecutive calls from different organizations (postal service, police, local government), it's likely a coordinated fraud scheme.

Prevention Tips

• Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. If you do answer, never share personal information
• Don't keep large amounts of cash at home. Consider using bank safe deposit boxes or financial investment products
• Don't disclose your home occupancy status. Never answer questions about whether you're currently at home
• If something seems suspicious, always contact police yourself using the number you look up independently, not one provided by the caller
• Family members should regularly check in with elderly relatives and ask if they've received unusual calls

Where to Report

If you receive suspicious calls or offers:

• Your local police department consultation center
• Police consultation hotline: #9110
• Consumer hotline: 188 (toll-free)