United States of America / USA (Guam) travel advisories

Warning about special fraud cases (How to avoid becoming a perpetrator (Part 2))

Dec. 16, 2024, midnight wide area information

We would like to provide you with a warning about special fraud cases (How to avoid becoming a perpetrator (Part 2)).

Alert for terrorism in Europe and the US

Dec. 9, 2024, midnight wide area information

During holiday and event seasons such as Christmas and New Year, there are increased gatherings and movements of people, which raises concerns that the possibility of terrorist attacks increases.
* In recent years, terrorist attacks have been occurring frequently in Europe and the United States, targeting places where security and surveillance are weak and where many ordinary citizens gather (soft targets). In particular, areas near tourist facilities, event venues, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, public transportation, religious facilities, etc. are prone to terrorist attacks, so caution is required at all times.
○ Always make an effort to obtain the latest information and take sufficient precautions to ensure your safety.

Warning about special fraud (to avoid becoming a victim)

Nov. 29, 2024, midnight wide area information

We will issue wide-area information on special frauds.

Caution regarding protests and other activities related to the situation in the Middle East

Oct. 5, 2024, midnight wide area information

1

Recent safety measures information (December 20, 2024)

Dec. 21, 2024, 6:11 a.m.

[Main text]
Please be careful of burglaries.
According to local security authorities, there have been 40 high-value burglaries targeting the homes of Asian business owners and wealthy individuals in the Denver metropolitan area so far this year.
The criminal group's modus operandi involves following targeted business owners and identifying their homes, then hiding small cameras around the homes or using technology such as drones and GPS trackers to observe the victim's behavioral patterns. Even in homes that have contracts with security companies, the criminals cut off the power to the security equipment or cut the cables to stop the alarm from going off, and then enter through back doors or basement entrances that are less visible to the public.
Because the crimes are committed when the residents are away, there have been no incidents of physical harm so far; however, there have been cases of theft of cash, precious metals, luxury brand items, and other items.
Local security authorities recommend the following measures to help prevent you becoming a victim of burglary:
・Do not store large amounts of cash at home. If you must store cash, install a safe and install it on the floor or wall (or prepare a heavy object that cannot be easily moved).
- Check around your home at least once a week for any suspicious objects.
- Provide spare batteries for security equipment (cameras, monitors, etc.).
- Use timers to turn on garden and indoor lights.
- Make sure back doors and basement entrances are locked.
- Work with your neighbors to get in touch if you see any suspicious people or vehicles.
・Keep a guard dog.
If you notice anything suspicious, do not hesitate to report it to the police.

●Safety measures to avoid becoming a victim of crime during the Christmas season and New Year's holidays With Christmas and the New Year's holidays approaching, many people are planning and looking forward to going out to events and traveling, but to ensure they can do so safely and avoid becoming a victim of crime, we ask that you review some safety information in advance.
Terrorism and shooting incidents attract a lot of attention, and it is said that the risk of them occurring is higher at events where many people gather (sports competitions, rallies, demonstrations, etc.). If you spot a suspicious object or person at an event venue, leave the area immediately and report it to security authorities. Also, if you encounter explosions or gunfire, make your own safety your number one priority and do not approach unnecessarily.
In addition, if you are planning to travel abroad on vacation, we ask that you check the situation in the country or region you will be traveling to in advance. By registering with Tabi-Regi, you will be able to obtain safety information for your destination before you travel, so please also register with Tabi-Regi at the following URL.
◎ Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseas safety information distribution service "Tabireji"
https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/tabireg/index.html
In addition, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Overseas Safety Website below, which contains overseas safety information such as useful information for traveling to and staying in each country or region, as well as warnings about terrorism, etc.
◎ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overseas Safety Website https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/

●Precautions for winter vehicle troubles (traffic accidents and breakdowns) With the arrival of the cold weather, traffic accidents and vehicle troubles are increasing in some places due to snow accumulation and frozen roads. In addition to driving, it is important to check your vehicle in advance and keep the necessary supplies in your car in case of an emergency.
It is more difficult to control a vehicle on snowy or icy roads than under normal circumstances, and the distance it takes to stop even when braking is significantly longer. During this season, it is important to slow down, keep a safe distance from other vehicles, and drive with ample room to maneuver.
Frozen roads, which can cause accidents, tend to occur near tunnel entrances and exits and on bridges where temperatures are low, and black ice in particular is easy to overlook because at first glance it looks like a wet, black road surface, so you should be careful. Please refer to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service's information on road conditions and driving precautions.
◎ United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service website https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd488148.pdf
In addition, in winter you need to be prepared for vehicle troubles such as breakdowns and getting stuck for long periods of time. Inspect your vehicle in advance, keep the fuel tank close to full, and prepare the following supplies that will be needed in an emergency:
・Snow shovel ・Jump cables, warning devices, etc. ・Blankettle blankets to protect yourself from the cold ・Water, food, etc. In addition to the above, the U.S. Department of Transportation also provides information on vehicle inspections and advance preparations, so please check the website below in advance.
◎U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) homepage https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips#preparing-your-vehicle

●Precautions regarding the use of cell phones while driving a vehicle In Colorado, a law will come into effect on January 1, 2025 making it a violation of holding a cell phone or other device in your hand while driving, in order to prevent accidents caused by careless driving.
This law makes it a violation not only to use a mobile phone to send text messages while driving, but also to hold the phone in your hand and make a voice call.
In addition, texting is also a violation in all states under our jurisdiction except Colorado (New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming). In addition, in New Mexico and Utah, it is also a violation to hold a cell phone or other mobile phone while driving.
Regardless of whether it is illegal or not, to prevent accidents, be sure to use hands-free accessories or devices when using a mobile phone while driving.
For more information about Colorado's new law, please visit the Colorado state government website below.
◎Colorado State Government Website: https://www.codot.gov/safety/distracteddriving/colorado-hands-free-law

●New Year's holiday closures The Embassy will be closed from Saturday, December 28th to Sunday, January 5th, 2025. It will reopen on Monday, January 6th in the new year. If you have an urgent matter during the closure period, please contact the Embassy's main telephone number below.
◎Consulate-General of Japan in Denver Tel: +1-303-534-1151 (Press "1" when prompted)

*This email will be sent to the email addresses of those who have submitted a residence notification, those who have registered with Tabi-Reji, and those who have requested to receive our email newsletter.
*If you have completed the simple registration for TabiRegi and would like to change or stop receiving emails, please follow the procedure to stop receiving them from the URL below.
https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/tabireg/simple/delete
*In order to protect your family, friends, and colleagues in the event of a disaster or unrest, please encourage your acquaintances, business travelers, and tourists to file a Residence Notification (for stays of 3 months or more) or register with Tabi-Regi (for stays of less than 3 months) so that information on safety measures can reach as many people as possible.

[Contact Information]
Consulate-General of Japan in Denver Consular and Security Team
Consulate-General of Japan in Denver
1225 17th Street, Suite 3000
Denver, CO 80202
TEL: 303-534-1151
FAX: 303-534-3393
E-mail: cgjd-consular@de.mofa.go.jp
Website: https://www.denver.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Information on overseas safety measures seminar (online viewing)

Dec. 20, 2024, 8:26 a.m.

As part of our safety measures for Japanese nationals living overseas, we will be holding an online seminar on overseas safety measures from today until January 9th at 7pm (local time). You can watch the seminar any time during the period by accessing the following URL.
The purpose of this seminar is to raise awareness of crisis management and safety measures among Japanese nationals and companies living overseas and to strengthen safety measures, and the content will focus on safety measures taking into account the current public safety situation in Florida.
Florida has many famous tourist destinations, but there is also a risk of becoming a victim of crime. We hope that by watching this seminar, you will have the opportunity to review the current crime situation and take measures to protect yourself.

Format: Recorded seminar (available for viewing at the following URL)
https://vimeo.com/1036968161
Period: Thursday, December 19, 2024 to Thursday, January 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (local time)
Contents: Dealing with gun crime in Florida, things to be careful of in a car-driven society, key points for everyday life Duration: Approximately 25 minutes Created by: Control Risks Group Co., Ltd. Seminar Team Content inquiries: j-het@controlrisks.com

[Consulate-General of Japan in Miami]
Consulate General of Japan in Miami
80 SW 8th Street, Suite 3200, Miami, FL 33130
Phone: 305-530-9090
Representative website: http://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp

This email address is for sending only.
○This email is automatically sent to the email addresses registered in your residence notification, email newsletter, and Tabi-Regi.
If you have signed up for Tabi-Regi and would like to stop receiving emails, please follow the procedure to stop receiving emails from the URL below.
URL: https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/tabireg/simple/delete

Fraudulent activities involving people impersonating consulate officials, customs officials, and police officers

Dec. 13, 2024, 7:11 a.m.

[Main text]
1. Overview of the cases reported to the Embassy (1) Case 1
-I received a phone call from someone claiming to be Mr. Ishikawa from the Consulate General of Japan in New York who said, "A large amount of money has been deposited into an account in your name by a group of criminals, and it is being used for money laundering," and "A mobile phone that was fraudulently contracted in your name is being used by a group of specialized fraudsters."
-The call was transferred to someone named Sakai at the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police, and the interview was conducted via LINE video call under the pretext of an "interrogation to prepare a report remotely," during which personal information and credit card numbers were requested.
(2) Case 2
-I received a phone call from someone claiming to be Kawasaki from the Customs Investigation Division, who said, "Prohibited drugs were found in the package you sent from the United States to Japan by courier."
-My call was transferred to someone named Sato at the airport police station, who urged me to appear there on the same day and file a complaint, but when I told him that this would be difficult, I was told that "your passport will be revoked and you will be deported," as well as "you are now a suspect, so you should not mention this to anyone," "you should not answer other calls," and "even if you consult with the consulate, the consulate does not have the authority to resolve this."

2. To prevent yourself or someone close to you from becoming a victim: (1) Please spread the word that these types of frauds are occurring to as many people as possible.
(2) Japanese public institutions will not request remittances in the name of taxes, fines, or bail without following proper procedures.
(3) Ignore any suspicious phone calls, emails, or social media messages that you do not recognize.
(4) Even if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a socially reputable institution, do not readily disclose detailed personal information (such as your SSN, credit card number, or PIN number).
(5) Hang up the phone and consult with your family, friends, colleagues, or the Consulate General. (There have been cases where people have been told that "consulting the consulate will not solve the problem" or "the consulate is in on it, so you should not consult them.")

3. Related information: December 9, 2024 [Safety measures] Beware of special fraud https://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100767246.pdf
・November 29, 2024 (wide area information)
Warning about special fraud
https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcwideareaspecificinfo_2024C049.html
・November 15, 2020 (consular email)
Warning about scams involving people pretending to be customs officials or police officers https://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100755616.pdf
・October 8, 2020 (consular email)
Attempted fraud case targeting Japanese nationals https://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100736860.pdf

Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta
Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
Phipps Tower Suite 850
3438 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326
TEL: (404) 240‐4300
EMAIL: ryoji@aa.mofa.go.jp

[A sharp increase in consultations regarding special frauds!!] About the methods of fraud identified by our institution

Dec. 13, 2024, 1:11 a.m.

[Main text]
1. Fraudulent phone calls from people pretending to be Japanese customs officials or police officers Recently, there has been a rise in fraudsters who make anxiety-inducing phone calls, claiming to be Japanese customs officials or police officers, saying things like, "Illegal drugs have been found in the luggage you sent to Japan. You may be deported to Japan or your passport may be revoked, so we would like you to follow our instructions." They then try to get your credit card number.
Japanese customs officials and police officers will never hint at deportation or the expiration of your passport. This is a scam tactic, so do not comply with their demands and hang up the phone immediately.

2. Fraudulent phone calls from people pretending to be from local financial institutions or police officers We have confirmed cases of fraud in which people claiming to be bank employees call and say, "Your account is being used for money laundering. Your account may be frozen or you may be arrested by the police."
In the middle of a call, someone claiming to be a police officer will appear on the phone and demand, "In order to prove that you are not involved in any crime, we need to monitor your actions for several days. We ask that you continue to broadcast your image on SKYPE or other services," putting the person in a situation where they are unable to turn to anyone for advice.
After that, when they find themselves unable to make rational decisions, they will ask you to transfer money to a specified account. This is a method of fraud, so you should not comply with their demands.

3. Fake text messages posing as USPS staff: A scam has been confirmed for some time in which the USPS sends a text message saying, "We are unable to deliver your package to you as we are missing information necessary for customs clearance. Please enter the necessary information, such as your ZIP code, on the page linked below," and directs you to a web page to obtain a personal account. With Christmas just around the corner, there will be many opportunities to give and receive gifts. If you do not recognize the sender and suspect something is wrong, do not click on the link instructed by the sender, but contact the USPS directly to confirm.

4. Real estate fraud using information exchange sites In November of this year, when a person was about to be transferred to the Boston area, he posted on a local Japanese information exchange site that he was “looking for a rental property,” and was then scammed into by an individual claiming to be Japanese who introduced him to a fictitious real estate company and rental property.
After paying the contract fee and part of the rent to the agent introduced to him, when he tried to move out, he found out that the property did not exist. He was unable to contact the person who introduced him or the agent, and was forced to find a new place to live. There have been cases of fraud involving fictitious rental properties for some time, but this was the first time that a case of fraud involving communication in Japanese had been heard of.
Even if you think the other party is Japanese, you should never let your guard down and be careful during contract negotiations to check for anything suspicious or the possibility of fraud.

We have introduced the types of fraud we receive the most inquiries about at our Embassy. All of the methods are complex and ingenious, and unfortunately, there are also fraudulent methods in Japanese, so you need to be careful.
It is difficult to immediately detect a scam, but if you encounter a situation similar to the methods introduced here, please be aware that it may be a scam and act with extra caution.

[Contact Information]
Consular Section, Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
TEL: 617-973-9772, FAX: 617-542-1329
http://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html

*If you have registered for TabiRegi and would like to stop receiving emails, please follow the procedure to stop receiving emails from the URL below.
https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/tabireg/simple/delete

*If you have returned to your home country or moved to another country and have not yet filed a return (moving) notification, we apologize for the inconvenience, but please follow the procedure below.
＜Returning to Japan＞
If you have submitted a paper residence notification, please submit a return notification to our Embassy by email or other means.
If you are using ORRnet, please complete the procedure from the following URL.
https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/RRnet/index.html
＜Relocation＞
Please submit your residence notification to the nearest Japanese diplomatic mission either by paper or via ORRnet.

* In order to protect your family, friends, and colleagues in the event of a disaster or unrest, please tell your acquaintances, business travelers, and tourists to file a Residence Notification (for stays of 3 months or more) or register for a Tabi-Regi (for stays of less than 3 months) so that information on safety measures can reach as many people as possible.

(Resent) Passport management during the New Year holidays ※Addition of opening and closing days

Dec. 12, 2024, 4:41 a.m.

[Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco (New Year's holiday and opening days)]
December 26th (Thursday) Opening day December 27th (Friday) Opening day
Closed: December 28th (Saturday) - January 5th (Sunday)
Opening day: January 6th (Monday)

<Reference>
Safety Guidehttps://www.sf.us.embjapan.go.jp/pdf/anzen_no_tebiki.pdf
*Especially "P3 Crime Prevention Guide"

■In order to shorten waiting times when you visit the Consulate and to avoid congestion in the Consulate waiting room, we operate on a reservation system for passport and other certification services at the Consulate counter. Please see our website for details. (https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/appointment.html)

■When traveling abroad, be sure to inform your family, friends, workplace, etc. of your travel dates and contact information at your destination in case of an emergency. If you are staying for more than three months, be sure to submit a residence notification.
(https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/RRnet/index.html)
In addition, if you are traveling or on a business trip of less than three months, please register with Tabi-Regi so that you can receive safety information as it arises while you are overseas.
(For details, see https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/tabireg/index.html#)

Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco
Consulate-General of Japan at San Francisco
Consular and Security Team
TEL:415-780-6000
HP: https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html

Passport management during the New Year holidays

Dec. 12, 2024, 4:36 a.m.

<Reference>
Safety Guidehttps://www.sf.us.embjapan.go.jp/pdf/anzen_no_tebiki.pdf
*Especially "P3 Crime Prevention Guide"

■In order to shorten waiting times when you visit the Consulate and to avoid congestion in the Consulate waiting room, we operate on a reservation system for passport and other certification services at the Consulate counter. Please see our website for details. (https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/appointment.html)

■When traveling abroad, be sure to inform your family, friends, workplace, etc. of your travel dates and contact information at your destination in case of an emergency. If you are staying for more than three months, be sure to submit a residence notification.
(https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/RRnet/index.html)
In addition, if you are traveling or on a business trip of less than three months, please register with Tabi-Regi so that you can receive safety information as it arises while you are overseas.
(For details, see https://www.ezairyu.mofa.go.jp/tabireg/index.html#)

Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco
Consulate-General of Japan at San Francisco
Consular and Security Team
TEL:415-780-6000
HP: https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html