Security News > 2024 > April > Japanese police create fake support scam payment cards to warn victims
Japanese police placed fake payment cards in convenience stores to protect the elderly targeted by tech support scams or unpaid money fraud.
The cards are labeled "Virus Trojan Horse Removal Payment Card" and "Unpaid Bill Late Fee Payment Card," and were created by the Echizen Police in the Fukui prefecture in Japan as an alert mechanism.
Their purpose is to warn elder victims seeking payment cards at the instructions of fraudsters.
By placing the dummy cards in the electronic money sections of 34 local convenience stores, the Echizen Police have been testing a new method to fight tech support scams.
As the police department rewards employees who assist in the program, law enforcement can also identify victims and further investigate the scams.
Due to the specific messages on them, victims are likely to pick them up, believing that they are prepaid cards that could help them solve the issue presented by the scammer.