⚠️ Beware of Donation Scams After 2026 Kumamoto Quake

❓ What's happening?

The 2026 Kumamoto earthquake caused major damage, and fundraising for reconstruction is now active. On July 31, 2026, the FSA issued a warning about wire-transfer scams disguised as donation drives. Similar fraud occurred after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the 2016 Kumamoto quake, and the 2024 Noto Peninsula quake. Scammers may exploit goodwill through phone calls, home visits, emails, and social media using various pretexts—not only fake donations.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Anyone wishing to donate to Kumamoto earthquake relief
• ●People contacted by phone, email, or SNS asking for donations
• ●Foreign residents who find it hard to judge Japanese-language solicitations
• ●Anyone asked to send e-money or cryptocurrency

🌏 Impact on foreign residents

Foreign residents unfamiliar with Japanese or with local organization names may struggle to tell genuine groups from fake ones, making them easy targets. Reported tactics include impersonating famous volunteer groups or public agencies to lure victims to fake websites and unauthorized accounts, and posting fake rescue requests on SNS to demand e-money. Before transferring any donation (including e-money or crypto), always confirm the recipient's account number and name match those publicly announced on TV or in newspapers, and verify the organization is trustworthy.