Japanese police has initiated a unique strategy involving the placement of counterfeit payment cards in convenience stores to safeguard elderly individuals from tech support scams and unpaid money fraud. These fake cards, labeled as "Virus Trojan Horse Removal Payment Card" and "Unpaid Bill Late Fee Payment Card," were devised by the Echizen Police in Fukui prefecture as a preemptive measure.

The primary objective behind these dummy cards is to alert elderly victims who might be instructed by fraudsters to acquire such payment cards. This initiative comes in response to the significant financial losses, amounting to around $7.5 million, incurred by Fukui prefecture due to various online frauds in the past year. Notably, in January 2024 alone, there were 14 reported complaints of investment scams causing an estimated damage of $700,000.

In a bid to combat tech support scams, the Echizen Police undertook a trial run of this innovative approach by distributing the counterfeit cards across 34 local convenience stores. Store employees were thoroughly briefed about the purpose of these cards. Whenever customers attempted to purchase them, employees intervened, explaining to the potential buyers that they were likely targeted by scammers.

This collaborative effort not only aims to prevent further victimization but also facilitates the identification of potential victims for subsequent investigation by law enforcement. Reports from local media outlet Fukuishimbun indicate that this strategy, implemented since late November 2023, has already proven effective in aiding at least two elderly men who were nearly swindled into paying fees for non-existent malware cleaning services.

The distinctive messaging on these dummy cards makes them conspicuous to potential victims, who may believe they offer solutions to the issues presented by scammers. Yayoi Tanaka, a convenience store employee who thwarted a scam attempt with the help of these cards, noted that they significantly ease the process of explaining to customers that they have fallen victim to deception.