There have been a series of suspicious phone calls in various places from people pretending to be police officers trying to get personal information, but a real police officer repelled a man pretending to be a police officer who called and said, "Your health insurance card has been suspended." Actual recording of a scam phone call Fake police officer: "Personal information may have been leaked, and your health insurance card is being used fraudulently. I, Kudo, from the 2nd Investigation Division of Sendai Central Police Station, will now conduct an investigation." The man, who calls himself a police officer and pretends to be an interrogator, tries to get personal information. The person answering the phone is a real police officer. Police: "A public institution wouldn't display a number without a caller ID." Fake police officer: "Emergency number? What, you didn't receive an explanation?" Police: "I received an explanation, but I don't know about that line." Actual audio of a scam phone call released by the Ibaraki Prefectural Police. In August of this year, a man in his 60s living in Ibaraki Prefecture received a call from a man claiming to be from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Man (60s): "Did your personal information leak?" Man claiming to be from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: "Yes. It seems like it's being used at a hospital in Sendai that I don't know." The man explains, "My health insurance card is being misused," and "If this continues, my health insurance card will be suspended." Furthermore... Man claiming to be from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: "Of course, there is a possibility that your family's health insurance cards will also be suspended." Man (60s): "You mean my wife's health insurance card may also be suspended? That's a problem. So, what should I do then?" Man claiming to be from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: "We can provide an emergency call number, but as I told you earlier, filing a report is not mandatory." The man explains falsely that if you use the emergency call number, you can file a report by phone. Fake announcement: "Your call is now being forwarded to the appropriate police station via the emergency call number." An automated voice plays, and then a fake police officer appears. ■Fake police officers extract personal information under the pretense of questioning. Fake police officer: "In my opinion, this case is most likely a criminal case due to the leak of personal information." "In order to accept the victim's report, we have to conduct questioning. Is anyone else at home right now?" Man (60s) "Only my wife is at home right now." Fake police officer: "Oh, so your wife is here. In that case, please have the two of you near the phone to receive questioning." The fake police officer extracts personal information from the man under the pretense of questioning. However, the man's wife was quick to call 110 and call the police. Police officers from the Ibaraki Prefectural Police rushed to their home. ■Fighting off the fake police with the real one: "I'm a detective, so it's okay." Police: "Can I ask your name again?" Fake police officer: "My name is Kudo." Police: "Kudo? What's your first name?" Fake police officer: "My name is Hajime." Police: "Hajime. How do you write it?" Fake police officer: "I write it as Ichi." The fake police officer and the real police officer face off on the phone. Police: "In the first place, there isn't an emergency line (from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) that directly connects to police stations, is there?" Fake police officer: "There is. They've connected me and I'm listening to what they're saying." Police: "Really? What kind of line is that?" Fake police officer: "The emergency call line. What, you weren't explained to them?" Police: "I was explained to them, but I don't know of any such line." The real police officer then begins to grill him. Police: "What do you specialize in at the Second Investigation Division?" Fake police officer: "What do you specialize in?" Police: "Do you specialize in deceiving people?" Fake police officer: "What do you mean?" Police: "There's no such thing as Kudo Hajime. He's at Sendai Chuo Police Station." Fake police officer: "Yes, there is." Police: "Is he there?" The fake police officer, not realizing that he is talking to a real police officer, desperately tries to explain. Police: "It's okay now. You don't need to file a complaint or anything. I'll go to Hitachinaka Police Station." Fake police officer: "What are you going to do? What is it? Is it a prank call?" Police: "You're the one making the prank calls. You called and just dialed the emergency number yourself." The real police officer reveals his identity to the fake police officer. Police: "I'm a detective, so it's okay. I'm a detective, so it's okay. See you." Fake police officer: "Which department are you from?" Police: "I won't tell you. Why should I tell you? You're lying. I'm a detective from Hitachinaka Police Station. See you. I've already recorded all of your calls. Thank you." According to the National Police Agency, the number of such premonitory calls to find out personal information has exceeded 130,000 in the past year. (From "Hatori Shinichi Morning Show" broadcast on November 15, 2024) [TV Asahi News] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp