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Osaka Prefecture Considers Banning Phone Use at ATMs for Seniors - Aiming to Prevent Special Fraud
- Writing language: Korean
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Base country: Japan
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Summarized by durumis AI
- Osaka Prefecture is considering an ordinance that would ban seniors from using their phones at ATMs, marking the first such attempt in Japan.
- This is seen as a strong measure to curb special fraud cases that have become particularly severe among seniors aged 65 and older.
- However, concerns about the ordinance's effectiveness and the burden it would place on financial institutions remain.
Osaka Governor Yoshimuri announced on the 27th that he is considering banning the use of mobile phones by the elderly at ATMs through an ordinance. If this ordinance is passed, it will be the first in all of Japan.First in all of Japan.
Source: GPT4o
"We are considering revising the ordinance to strengthen measures against special fraud," said Governor Yoshimuri, revealing specific plans to ban the use of mobile phones by the elderly at ATMs.
Osaka Prefecture recorded a record high of 2,656 cases of special fraud last year, with total damages amounting to approximately 3.7 billion yen (= approximately 32 billion won, approximately 23 million USD). This means that about 10 million yen (= approximately 86 million won, approximately 62,000 USD) in damages are occurring every day.
The revision of the ordinance focuses on individuals aged 65 and older, as criminals often use mobile phones to instruct the elderly. This is the first instance in all of Japan to prohibit the use of mobile phones at ATMs. Governor Yoshimuri emphasized, "I believe this is a very malicious crime. They are defrauding the hard-earned retirement funds of our grandparents, and we must do everything we can to stop it."
However, if the ordinance is revised, facilities will be needed to verify whether mobile phones are being used at unmanned ATMs. Governor Yoshimuri is requesting that financial institutions bear the cost of these facilities. He also expressed his desire to submit the revised bill to the parliament next February. However, bank officials expressed concerns, stating, "It seems like we will be quite busy," and "This is not an issue for individual banks, but something that all banks in Osaka Prefecture need to work on together."
Governor Yoshimuri also expressed his desire to make it mandatory to verify the purpose of purchase when selling prepaid cards at convenience stores and other establishments.
This review of the ordinance is interpreted as a strong countermeasure against special fraud crimes, which have become a serious issue in Japanese society. With crimes targeting the elderly continuing unabated, attention is focused on how effective this ordinance will be.
