Elderly people in Japan will be prohibited from using ATMs while talking on the phone

In Japan, elderly people are prohibited from using ATMs during phone calls

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to The Japan Times, authorities in Japan's Osaka prefecture have made an unprecedented decision prohibiting citizens over 65 years old from using ATMs while talking on the phone.

The new measure is aimed at combating telephone scammers who increasingly target elderly people. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura emphasized the social significance of the adopted regulation: "Elderly people not only lose money but also suffer from stress. We adopted this regulation hoping to prevent crimes".

According to the document, financial institutions are required to inform clients about the existing ban. While there are no specific sanctions for violating the rule, authorities are confident that the very existence of the ban will help reduce the number of fraud cases.

Statistics confirm the seriousness of the problem: since 2021, there has been an increase in telephone fraud. In 2024, 2,658 such cases have already been registered in Osaka. The damage caused to pensioners is estimated at 6.4 million yen. Particularly alarming is the fact that more than 70% of all fraud victims are people over 65 years old.