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[November 2018]

Ignore fake notice claiming to be from District Court Administration Office

Local consumer affairs centers across Japan have received inquiries and complaints about billing fraud. The inquirers received a postcard claiming to be from the District Court Administration Office, which was titled "Final notice of lawsuit over particular consumption charges". Some of them were about to call the telephone number written on the postcard, but their family members thought it might be fraud and stopped them from calling. They wondered how to handle the problem.

The postcard reads, "We would like to inform you that your contracting company or operating company thereof filed a civil complaint against you over contractual default. The lawsuit will be launched after the final deadline for dismissing the case." The postcard advises an addressee to call a fixed-line phone number to consult about abandonment of the case.

The postcard intimidates an addressee, stating "If you don't call us by the date, we will have to seize your salary, movable and immovable property with the court enforcement officer present, so please allow us to deliver an execution deed from the court enforcement officer."

The sender claims to be from the District Court Administration Office, but actually the sender has nothing to do with courts and fraudulently uses the name.

The postcard stresses that the addressee should contact by himself/herself, stating like, "We are sending this notice in writing. In order to protect your privacy, please contact us by yourself." Under the formal court procedure, however, a court complaint in a sealed envelope with the court's name is directly handed to the person concerned in principle, and is not put in a mailbox.

Even if you receive a postcard like the above, do not contact the fraudulent sender.

Some of the inquirers called the telephone number written on the postcard and heard that the office would introduce a lawyer. A self-claimed lawyer told that a fee would be required for dropping a lawsuit, and the inquirers were charged for the fee.

If you feel uneasy even slightly, consult your local consumer affairs center.

  1. * Various organization names have been used for fraudulent postcards and letters, for example, courts, the Ministry of Justice, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, local consumer affairs centers, etc. If you contact such a sender, fraudsters try to defraud you of money or try to get your personal data. Ignore such postcards and letters.

Related information on NCAC's website

The following web pages are written in Japanese.

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Example of a postcard delivered to an inquirer

Photo. a postcard delivered to an inquirer
 Photo of a postcard delivered to an inquirer