Practical articles on AI, online safety, and security (112 articles)
This week's five stories each had one place to stop: do not allow "Accessibility" to a fake app, do not call the number on a fake PC warning, stop at a personal-account payee in a celebrity investment group, refuse seafood you declined, and do not tap a courier SMS URL. The four engineer alerts have updates on KEV listing and NVD status. Quiz.
A text saying a parcel was taken back, or a robocall from a number starting with "+". Based on what Sagawa Express, Yamato Transport and Japan Post officially say, and the Council of Anti-Phishing Japan's September report: how to check a parcel without tapping the link, and what to do if you already did.
Phone pitches for seafood that end in unwanted cash-on-delivery parcels tend to rise at year-end in Japan. Based on the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan's October 28 warning: how the scheme runs, what to do when a parcel arrives, the 8-day cooling-off window, and how to brief a parent.
You are lured into an "investment group" by a social media ad or an account using a celebrity's name, then told to send money to an assistant's personal bank account. Based on a September 1 warning from Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center and the National Police Agency's end-of-August statistics, here is where to stop and what to do if you have already paid.
A full-screen "your PC is infected" alert with an alarm and a phone number. Japan's IPA reported on 23 October that this scam was the most common one in its July to September consultations, at 1,160 cases. How to close the screen without calling, and what to do if you already did.
On 15 October 2026 JC3 described scams that make people install fake apps from emails about points or refunds, or from ads marked "18+", then control the phone remotely to steal money. The National Police Agency reported similar losses in its September issue. This covers where to stop at the permission screen and what to do after installing.
This week's five stories each had one place to stop: hang up when money comes up on a call to a parent, do not trust an email just because it has your name, hang up on the bank's auto-voice and call back, do not open "update now" notices, and do not contact a postcard's number. The five engineer alerts have updates on KEV listing and NVD status. Quiz.
If a postcard titled "Final Confirmation Notice" in the name of the National Consumer Affairs Center reaches your mailbox and says a lawsuit was filed and your wages or property may be seized, do not call the number on it. On 20 October 2026 the Center said the postcard is fake. How to spot it, what to do if you already called, and what the public notice does not say.
This week brought updates to Chrome 156, Firefox 158.0.1, Java and PHP. The Council of Anti-Phishing Japan reports that mail posing as app updates or procedures and leading to malicious apps surged in September. Here is where individuals should open updates, how to treat a certificate error, and where to get help if you installed something.
It starts with an automated call: "This is XX Bank. If you use online banking, press a number." It targets business accounts. Japan's National Police Agency saw a new method using remote-control software surge from May 2026, and on 13 October announced seven arrests in Vietnam in a joint investigation. Here is the flow, how to tell, how to call back safely and where to get help.
Between 7 and 13 October, Japan's National Police Agency, Financial Services Agency, Personal Information Protection Commission, IPA and others issued alerts about a run of data leaks. The Council of Anti-Phishing Japan says phishing mail carrying the recipient's name was seen in September. Here is how to check without clicking, why to stop reusing passwords, and what the FSA says about leaked ID images.
This week's five stories each had one place to stop: take "today only" offers home, never refund or forward an unexplained deposit, do not press fake-email links, do not scan QR codes in letters, and do not reply to emails in the boss's name. The five engineer alerts have updates on KEV listing and NVD status. Quiz.
Japan's National Police Agency says scam calls from fraudsters to mobile phones are surging. Its recommended scam-call apps are free and had been downloaded 2,214,500 times by the end of August 2026. Here is how to set one up, how iPhone and Android differ, what the apps cannot stop, and three lines to send your parents.
If an email in your company president’s name reaches a public company address and asks you to create a LINE group and send back the QR code, do not follow it. In a report published on 10 September 2026, Japan’s National Police Agency counted 127 fake-president frauds and about 3.88 billion yen in losses from January to June 2026. How the trick works, how to spot it, what to do today, and what the public material does not say.
If a brown envelope in the name of the "Metropolitan Police Department Lost Property Center" reaches your home, and the "lost property notice" inside says your My Number card is being held and tells you to start a procedure via a QR code, do not scan it. On 8 October 2026 Tokyo police warned that this is a trick that leads you to a fake site to steal My Number and other data. How to spot it, what to do if you already entered data, and what the public material does not say.
On 15 October 2026 Japan's National Police Agency warned in its Cyber Police Agency Letter Vol.20 that fake emails sent to leaked email addresses can lead to further leaks and financial loss. The same day it announced a takedown of phishing infrastructure with Microsoft and JC3. Here is the example, three protections, what to do if you typed in your details, and what the public material does not say.
If money you do not recognize lands in your account and a caller says "I sent it by mistake, return it", do not refund it or forward it; contact your bank through its official number. I found no official warning describing this exact scheme. This article sets out what could be confirmed: the "remittance offense" Japan's National Police Agency made punishable on 10 July, Japan Post Bank's warning, and how banks handle it.
On 7 October 2026 the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan warned about contract trouble over personal training. Complaints reached 1,457 in fiscal 2025, up from 885 the year before. Cases include long pitches after a free trial advertised on social media, with salon treatments and supplements added. This is not an attack on training itself.
Five consumer stories, five places to stop: do not press 1, do not buy from an ad’s button, do not use links after a breach notice, a deposit means fraud, never pay first. The four engineer alerts have updates, and Zammad’s fix arrived on 8 October. Quiz.
A 6 October 2026 notice from Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center describes a buyer who paid about 20,000 yen first to someone offering concert tickets at face value on SNS, ignored the payment app's warning, and then lost contact. The buyer says the seller seemed to be pitching others too. Buy from official channels, check that resale is not banned, and in Japan call 188 or the police (#9110).
In provisional figures published on 2 October 2026, Japan's National Police Agency counted 452 matchmaking-fraud cases (+73.2% on the same period last year) and ¥1.47 billion in losses (+83.2%) through the end of August. The scam asks for a membership fee to be introduced to someone, then adds a deposit. The NPA's rule: "a deposit is required" means fraud.
Daiwa Securities (5 October) and Citizen Watch (6 October) announced that customer data may have leaked through the same contractor. Leaked data cannot be taken back, but what leaked changes what you do today. Based on both announcements: what to check, how to prepare for copycat calls, emails and SMS, and where to get help in Japan.
On 3 September 2026 Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency warned about fake sites posing as Tanaka Kikinzoku and Mikimoto in social-media ads. Only cash on delivery was offered, and the gold coin that arrived tested as mostly 70% copper and 20% iron; the necklace was imitation pearl. The National Consumer Affairs Center reports that about 60% of counterfeit-goods complaints involve cash on delivery. Five warning signs, and who to call.
IPA's corporate consultation desk received 68 tech-support scam cases in April to June 2026, up about 66% from 41 the quarter before (this site's calculation). In the case IPA described, an automated call posing as the tax agency led to remote-control software; a colleague stopped it by putting the call on hold and powering the PC off. This covers the five places it could be stopped, and what to do if it already happened.
Four consumer stories, four places to stop: lower the transfer limit, pause at "move to LINE", skip the tax-office link, hang up on the ATM call. None of the three engineer alerts is in KEV. Quiz.
Japan’s National Police Agency published provisional figures to the end of August 2026 on 2 October. Refund fraud cases fell 10.0% to 2,058, while losses rose 7.2% to 4.65bn yen. By my own calculation the average per case went from about 1.90m to about 2.26m yen, approximate because the published losses are rounded. The agency’s own line: money is never returned to you at an ATM.
On 30 September 2026 the Council of Anti-Phishing Japan issued an alert about mail impersonating the National Tax Agency to push an Android app, and confirmed the campaign was still sending at 10:00 that day. The tests are published by the agency itself: genuine e-Tax mail comes only from info@e-tax.nta.go.jp and, as a rule, carries no URL in the body. And there is no e-Tax smartphone app at all.
Japanese police figures for the first half of 2026 show first contact in social-media investment fraud arriving through Instagram, X, TikTok and more, which the NPA itself calls a diversification. Yet by the time the money moves, 96.0% of cases are on LINE. The tell is not which app you met on; it is being moved to LINE.
Japan’s National Police Agency published provisional first-half figures on 30 July 2026. Of the 103.34 billion yen lost through transfers made by victims themselves, 72.2% went out through online banking — 79.8% for social-media investment fraud. Going to a cash machine or a counter takes a trip. Online banking does not.
Every one of this week’s four consumer stories turned on an entry point the other side had prepared first: an unexplained bill, account takeover on a trading site, a police officer on a video call, and an easy-money job advert. None of them can be told apart by appearance, and in none of them is the thing to check the contact the sender gave you. For engineers, three alerts, all confirmed as exploited. Quiz included.
A report published by Japan's National Police Agency in September 2026 counts 12,516 online posts judged to be criminal recruitment in the first half of 2026, up about 97% year on year. Police sent 50,213 warning replies to such posts.
A report published by Japan's National Police Agency in September 2026 describes arrests in a fraud case where the caller generated a face with AI for a video call while posing as a police officer. Special fraud losses in the first half of 2026 reached about 181.62 billion yen, up 51.7% year on year.
Japan's FSA updated its figures on 9 September 2026: 19,207 unauthorised logins and 10,639 unauthorised trades in online brokerage services. Here is how real-time phishing defeats one-time codes, and what to do today.
Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center reported on 16 September 2026 that consultations involving someone aged 65 or over reached 330,497 in FY2025 — 37.7% of all consultations. The age group with the highest share of mail-order complaints is 65 to 69, and that share falls as age rises. Here is what not to do when a bill arrives for something nobody bought.
All six scams this week started at an entry point someone else chose: a DM, a phone call, an ad, an email, an install prompt. The last article of the week showed why you cannot tell those entry points apart by looking. Plus five security alerts, four of them already exploited, and a four-question quiz.
Japan's Council of Anti-Phishing published its August figures on 18 September 2026: 82,338 reports, up 24.5% on July. Five impersonated brands account for about 70%, and a real-looking sender domain is no longer something you can decide on.
On 18 September 2026 Japan's National Police Agency reported cashless payment services being operated remotely after a malicious app is installed. Nothing on your side is needed once it is in — and all three entry points end with "install this app".
Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center reported on 16 September 2026 that complaints about business courses reached 1,121 in the first four months of FY2026, up from 821 a year earlier. Average contract values run 480,000 yen for mail order against 790,000 yen for telemarketing sales, the category that covers web-meeting pitches — and how you signed up changes your cancellation rights.
Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center published its FY2025 figures on 16 September 2026. Complaints about recurring-purchase contracts came to 46,958 from people aged 65+ and 47,387 from under-65s — practically the same. This is not an older-person problem. Here is how a one-off "trial" becomes a contract, and the single screen that decides it.
Japan's National Police Agency recorded 11,014 fake-police fraud cases in 2025, with losses of 100.5 billion yen — 70.6% of all special-fraud losses. Victims are most often in their thirties. Here is how to tell the call apart, and the number you must never ring back.
IPA's report published 22 July 2026 logged 423 unauthorised-login consultations for Q2, still rising. A DM saying "my relative's child is in an art contest" leads to a fake login page, and the hijacked account is then used to ask your family for money. Here is where to stop it.
Six online safety articles this week, each a different scam, and one idea running through them all: settle the point where you stop before money or information moves. Plus five security alerts, including an exploited Chrome zero-day, and four quiz questions.
On 3 September 2026 Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center published issue 550 of its consumer alert: a shopper followed a link in an email that impersonated an app they already used, entered card details, and lost about 200,000 yen. Pair that with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police QR code advisory updated on 10 July, and the rule is simple — stop before you scan.
Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center updated its online-game complaint data on 31 July 2026, and the recent cases are all children using a parent's device. Complaint numbers are falling, but the average amount charged by school-age children is about 330,000 yen. Here is what decides whether a charge can be cancelled, and what to change tonight.
The Council of Anti-Phishing Japan's monthly report, published 17 August 2026 for July 2026, records reports of SMS messages posing as parcel delivery notices. Report volumes for SMS phishing remain low — here is why it still deserves attention, what to do if you already opened the message, and how to judge the sender.
Japan's Council of Anti-Phishing published an urgent alert on 8 September 2026: emails are luring people into installing a malicious Android app, and the campaign was still running that morning. Never install an app from a link in an email. Here are the real subject lines and who to call if you already did.
Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center warned on 17 June 2026 that fraudulent shopping sites ask buyers to pay a personal account using the "send" function of a code-payment app. Paying a business uses the "pay" function instead. Here are the six warning signs to check before you pay, and what to do first when nothing arrives.
Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center issued an urgent alert on 17 August 2026. A direct message claiming to support disaster relief leads to a QR-code payment app, where you are told you will be refunded more than you paid. The first small refunds genuinely arrive. The tell is that "buy more, get back more" cannot work.
One theme ran through this week: decide on what you can verify, not on what you are told. The name on the bank account, whether the emergency patch is applied, the version in your admin screen. Four quiz questions at the end.
Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center published new case reports on September 1, 2026, with losses around 10 million yen. There is one reliable test: whose name is on the bank account. Here is the full flow and how to check a firm's registration.
Two weeks of scam tactics and security alerts in one place: how to close a fake virus warning, why a familiar voice proves nothing, and three CVEs confirmed as exploited. Four quiz questions at the end.
A full-screen virus warning with a blaring alarm and a phone number is a tech support scam. Your PC is not infected. Here is how to close it, and what to do if you already called.
'Easy money with your smartphone, high income'... Do you know the terrifying trap hidden behind such sweet words? Shemhazai is here to tell you the truth about 'dark part-time jobs' to ensure you and your loved ones don't get involved in crime.
Emails from delivery services, banks, or the tax office—are they really legitimate? Shemihaza will teach you about the traps of cleverly designed scam emails and how to spot them to protect your precious information.
What if you receive a call from your family's voice screaming 'Help!'? Shemhaza will teach you the horror of the latest AI-exploited scam, 'Deepfake,' and reliable measures to protect your loved ones.
SNS, email, game accounts... they're filled with important information, aren't they? If they were to be hijacked, it would be a disaster! Let's learn about the strongest weapon to protect your accounts, 'Two-Factor Authentication,' with Shemihaza!
The 'profitable stories' you see on social media might actually be sophisticated scams. To protect your valuable assets, let's learn about the latest scam tactics and countermeasures with Shemihaza!
Your smartphone is used every day. But without you knowing, 'fake apps' might be lurking, stealing your important information. Let's work with Shemhaza to protect your family from this danger!
Free Wi-Fi is convenient when you're out and about. But behind its ease of use, dangers are hidden. Let's explore ways to protect your smartphone and valuable information with Shemhazai!
The risk of your loved ones' voices and faces being perfectly replicated by AI to defraud you is increasing. Join Shemihaza to learn how to protect yourself from this new scam!
Passwords alone are no longer enough in this era. Let's learn with Shemhaza how to firmly protect your important SNS and online banking accounts with two-factor authentication!
Photos and information you casually post on SNS might be seen by many people without your knowledge. Protect yourself and your family from privacy setting pitfalls!
Password management is key to protecting your valuable accounts. Learn how to protect your and your family's information from cybercrime with just one habit!
Free Wi-Fi, convenient at cafes and stations, is actually full of dangers! Your communications might be eavesdropped on, or you might be tricked by fake Wi-Fi. Let's protect your and your family's important information with an 'invisible shield' called VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Fake SMS messages and emails pretending to be from delivery services or tax offices are endless. If you accidentally click on a URL, your valuable information could be stolen! Let's learn the latest tactics and how to identify them with Shemhaza, and protect your entire family.
Your 'family's voice' or 'boss's face' could be fake!? Sophisticated AI scams are rapidly increasing. Let's learn the latest tactics and simple defense strategies with Shemhaza to protect your loved ones and yourself.
We want all families to be aware! The sweet invitations for 'high-paying part-time jobs' seen on social media and the internet. Behind them hide terrifying traps that can ruin your life. To protect your loved ones, let's learn about the methods and dangers of illicit jobs.
Now more than ever, as families enjoy online shopping, you need to know this! Learn how to protect yourself and your valuable information from clever scams hidden behind "too cheap" and "hurry!" tactics.
Are you tired of receiving spam emails every day? The truth is, with a few simple settings, you can protect your precious inbox. Shemihaza will show you how to stop worrying about spam emails starting today!
Protect your family from the fear of account hijacking! What is two-factor authentication? How do you set it up? Learn the secrets to protecting your important online services and start implementing them today.
Are you aware of the dangers lurking in the QR codes you use every day? Learn how to protect your valuable information from sophisticated tricks that are invisible to the eye.
The photos and texts you casually post on social media. Without you knowing, your location and behavior patterns might be 'completely exposed.' We'll share important tips for safely enjoying social media.
Free Wi-Fi, convenient at cafes and stations, is actually full of dangers! Shemhaza will tell you the secrets to smartly and safely using the internet while protecting your valuable information.
Shemhaza will teach you how to protect your precious information from the dangers of fake apps lurking on your smartphone and malware that can hijack it, all without you even realizing it!
Emails and SMS messages impersonating famous companies, delivery services, and tax offices are rapidly increasing! To protect your valuable information, learn about the latest scam tactics and countermeasures.
'Could it be my child?' Let's learn together how to protect your precious family from the dangerous allure of online games and cryptocurrencies!
Are the passwords you use every day truly secure? Reusing simple passwords can put your digital life at risk.
What are the AI scams we hear about so often lately? Learn how to protect yourself and your family from AI traps that perfectly fake faces and voices.
Investment schemes you see on social media promising 'guaranteed profits'. Behind them lurk sophisticated scams. Learn how to protect yourself and your family from suspicious temptations.
Are you tempted by phrases like "easy money"? Once you step in, you can't escape. "Dark part-time jobs" are crimes that steal your future. Learn about their dangers to protect your loved ones.
What if you accidentally lose your smartphone…? For those of you with such worries. I'll share simple safety measures and countermeasures to protect your valuable information in case of an emergency.
Online shopping where you can get desired products cheaply. But wait a minute! It might be a scam designed to trick you. Let's learn together to protect your valuable assets.
It's natural to worry when your child has a smartphone. Let's learn the basics of "supervision settings" that parents can use to protect them from harmful information and troubles!
Summary (addressed to family): Your important personal information might have leaked online without you knowing. Let's learn together how to check and how to protect it!
In an age where passwords alone aren't enough, Shemihaza explains the importance of 'two-factor authentication' to protect your valuable accounts from hijacking, along with simple setup instructions!
You'd never think that dangers could be hidden in QR codes you use every day without a second thought! Please read to the end to protect your precious money and information.
The SNS you enjoy with family and friends might be putting your privacy at risk. Let's review your settings to protect yourself from strangers.
Free Wi-Fi used in cafes and stations might actually be full of dangers. Let's learn how to use it safely to prevent your important personal information from being stolen.
They may look identical, but they're full of danger! Learn about the tactics of fake apps and malware that can steal your personal information or cause your smartphone to malfunction without your knowledge, and protect your valuable data.
Scam emails that look identical to genuine ones but are actually trying to steal your personal information are on the rise. Learn how to identify them and protect your valuable information.
Is your online key truly safe? Reusing passwords or setting simple ones are major weaknesses that cybercriminals target. Start taking action now to protect your valuable information!
The era has arrived where AI impersonates your family or boss to try and trick you out of money. I'll share important tips to help you spot fakes.
SNS investment scams, luring you with sweet words, are rapidly increasing! Shemhaza will share tips to protect your valuable assets from the sophisticated tactics of celebrity impersonations and fake apps.
'Yami-Baito' are dark part-time jobs that unknowingly drag you into crime and steal your future. We'll reveal the terrifying reality hidden behind their sweet temptations and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Even in the invisible world of the internet, words can deeply hurt people. Let's learn together how to protect yourself and those around you.
To help your family enjoy online shopping safely, we'll provide tips on how to spot fake websites and protect yourself from the latest payment scams.
What if you lose or have your smartphone stolen, packed with so much important information? To avoid panicking, learn what you can do now and how to calmly respond in an emergency.
Are you aware of the dangers lurking in online games your children are engrossed in? High charges can occur without you even noticing. We'll share important tips for your family to enjoy gaming safely.
Is it okay if your password leaks? Two-factor authentication is the strongest way to double the 'keys' to your online presence. Take the first step to protect your important information from unauthorized access!
Do you know the dangers lurking in common QR codes? Simply scanning one could lead to your money or personal information being stolen. To protect you, we'll share the latest tactics and countermeasures!
The SNS you casually use might be unknowingly exposing your personal information to the world. Let's review your settings and enjoy safely!
Free Wi-Fi is convenient when you're out and about. But wait a minute! Is that connection truly safe? Before your valuable information is stolen, Shemhaza will explain how to protect yourself from these dangers.
Even if they look exactly like the real thing, dangerous apps and programs might be targeting your smartphone. Check now to protect your valuable information!
Let's all be careful as a family! This column is about protecting you from 'impersonation scams' that target your information and money.
"What? I always use the same password..." "I use my birthday." If this sounds like you, then before your precious personal information gets stolen, let's learn password security management techniques with Shemihaza.
Are you aware of the rapidly increasing AI-powered scams? This column is dedicated to protecting you from tactics where scammers impersonate family or friends to contact you.
Let's learn together what you can do starting today to prevent your family and loved ones from falling for "guaranteed profit investment schemes" they see on social media.
Wait a minute! Is that smartphone operation really safe? This column is about protecting yourself and your loved ones from the latest online scams and dangerous side hustles that junior high, high school students, and seniors are easily caught up in.
Dangers lurking in smartphones that every family member should be aware of. This column explains the latest online scams and malicious methods to protect yourself and your loved ones.
To ensure your loved ones don't face problems with smartphones. Based on the latest information from the National Consumer Affairs Center and the National Police Agency, we gently explain the methods of online scams and dangerous 'dark part-time jobs' that junior high/high school students and the elderly are particularly susceptible to, along with measures to avoid being deceived.
The smartphone your whole family uses. A moment's carelessness can lead to major trouble. Learn about common scams and criminal tactics to protect your loved ones.
Let's check together as a family! An advisor from the National Police Agency's Cyber Crime Division will discuss the latest online scams and dangerous pitfalls that junior high and high school students, as well as seniors who have just started using smartphones, are particularly susceptible to.