Osaka has emerged as the first prefecture in Japan to implement a prohibition on the use of mobile phones by those aged 65 and older when using ATMs, a step taken to fight the wave of telephone-based fraud against the elderly.
The law, which is without penalty, mainly aims to make more people aware and dissuade scammers who tend to pretend to be relatives or authorities to trick older people into parting with huge amounts of money. Although not enforceable, the ordinance requires banks and companies to inform the public about the rule, The Japan Times reports.
This move comes amid a nationwide effort to address a growing problem. In 2024 alone, phone-based fraud led to losses amounting to a record 72.1 billion yen, a 60% increase from the previous year. Data indicates that around 45% of the 20,951 reported individual victims were aged 75 or older, excluding corporate cases.
In September, the National Police Agency floated limiting daily ATM withdrawals and transfers of 75 and older to 300,000 yen. Although the plan generated apprehension among banks about customer hassle and logistical burden, Osaka went ahead with its own more stringent measures. These include limiting the average bank transfer per day to 100,000 yen for those who are 70 and older and prohibiting simultaneous phone use at ATMs.
Authorities have also ordered companies to place fraud alerts on ATMs and instructed prepaid card sellers to ensure that older customers are not being cheated.
Ryo Hamaoka of Osaka’s Crisis Management Office said the aim is to render phone use at ATMs socially unacceptable similar to the now-widespread courtesy of avoiding phone calls on public transport.
Other municipalities like Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Nagano have implemented similar anti-fraud measures like fraud awareness seminars and call-blocking devices.
