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of the cybercrime cases cleared in Japan in 2024 were fraud cases. Fraud was the most common type of cleared cybercrime during that year, followed by violations against the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds.

Cybercrimes in Japan

The number of cleared cybercrime cases gradually increased throughout the latter half of the 2010s, which partly reflects an increasing attention on the issue within Japan. Preventing cybercrime damages and investigating offenders have become crucial tasks for the police in an environment in which citizens and the economy rely on the internet to an unprecedented degree. The number of online banking frauds surged in 2023, and the amount of money lost through online banking fraud increased accordingly during that year. Other crimes involving financial damages include a variety of offenses, such as violations of the copyright law and ransomware attacks.

Cybercrimes and the Japanese police

In April 2022, a new bureau featuring a special investigative team dedicated to cybercrimes was established at the National Police Agency. One of the tasks of the Cyber Affairs Bureau, which is supposed to centralize work that had previously been taken care of by different prefectural bureaus, is to analyze cyberattack methods. This also includes attacks originating in other countries, which previously were difficult to address. The National Cyber Unit is tasked with handling high-profile cases, such as attacks on local governments and critical infrastructure. News reports point out that the establishment of the Cyber Affairs Bureau led to improved information-gathering capabilities, which make it easier for Japan to participate in international joint investigations.