Be careful! Consumers in their 20s tricked into borrowing money for side jobs and investments through remote-control app

Local consumer affairs centers across Japan and the like still receive numerous complaints about trouble over digital guidebooks for side jobs and investments. Fraudulent companies often target consumers in their 20s and make them borrow money. According to recent cases, after buying digital guidebooks for side jobs and investments, consumers are induced to make an expensive support contract. If a consumer declines the offer saying "I can't afford it," a fraudulent company makes the consumer borrow money using a remote-control app.

Therefore, NCAC decided to share typical cases and issue an alert to prevent consumers from getting in trouble.

What is a remote-control app?

A remote-control app enables an operator at a distant location to connect to your device (e.g. PC, smartphone) to share and operate your screen. It is often used by PC manufacturers and telecommunications carriers to support customers. Some devices accept screen sharing only and does not accept remote control. In the above trouble cases, fraudulent companies used a remote-control app to share a screen with consumers and to direct them to make a loan.

Sample Case

I was induced to make an expensive support contract for side jobs. When I declined the offer saying "I can't afford it," I was directed to borrow money through a remote-control app

Seeing an ad on a video site, I accessed a side job site. I registered as a friend on a free-call app. The side job company said, "You need to buy a digital guidebook," so I paid about 2,000 yen to buy it. At a later date, the company called me and said, "We will explain you in detail, so please make an appointment." On the appointed day, the company called me and said, "We will tell you how to make money from affiliate advertising and video distribution intermediary business. You can earn money quickly with our support plan costing about 2,000,000 yen, which suits you." I declined the offer saying "I can't afford it." Then, the company told me to install a remote-control app so that they can tell me how to borrow money from a moneylender. I followed the instruction. I operated my smartphone as I was told and entered false information about my place of employment. I borrowed 500,000 yen from each of two moneylenders (1,000,000 yen in total) and transferred the money to a designated personal bank account. It's hard for me to pay back the loan. I want the company to provide a refund.

(received from a woman in her 20s in December 2022)

Other cases

• Sharing a screen through a remote-control app, I was induced to buy a FX automated trading tool. In addition, I was directed to apply for a loan.
• I was induced to make a support contract for side jobs. I was directed to borrow money from a few moneylenders through a remote-control app.

Advice for consumers

Do not believe advertisements highlighting "easy to make money" and "profitable." Never borrow money to make a contract

It has been reportedly said that after being told "We will support you to make money," numerous consumers were induced to make an expensive support contract, which was not advertised. Fraudulent companies often say "It's easy to make money," "It's profitable," "Even if you borrow money, you can pay for itself soon," and something like that. Actually, there's no easy way to make money. There's no promise that you can pay back a loan soon. Even if you request cancellation or refund, you may not be able to get through to the company and it can be very difficult to solve a problem. Don't be taken in by sales talk. Calm down and think twice.

Do not easily install a remote-control app

Fraudulent companies often say "The app is necessary for you to receive an explanation about side jobs and investments," "We will tell you how to make a loan," etc. and induce you to install a remote-control app. If you have installed it, your device may be operated against your will. Do not easily install a remote-control app.

If you have registered with a moneylender's site directed by a company through a remote-control app, change your ID and password to prevent them from being misused

If you have registered with a moneylender's site directed by a company through a remote-control app, your ID and password may be disclosed to the company. Change your ID and password right away. The company may change your ID and password without your permission. In that case, contact the moneylender and explain what happened to prevent them from being misused.

Once your personal information is disclosed, it may be misused. Consider using the self-reporting system by which you can register a statement of having your personal information disclosed, as a part of credit information, with a personal credit information agency. In addition, check if you have received any bill you don't remember.

In case of trouble or concern, consult your local consumer affairs center

In case of trouble or concern, consult your local consumer affairs center instead of worrying alone.

Request to the Japan Financial Services Association

Issue a consumer alert and raise consumer awareness so that consumers can notice risk before borrowing money.