Important Notes & Security Precautions
To eradicate the fraudulent use of bank accounts
Important notification on money-laundering
Many cases of so-called "bank transfer fraud", so-called "furikome sagi" such as impersonation fraud and fraudulent billing fraud, occur and include unauthorized use of deposit accounts. To avoid these frauds, be especially careful not to send money before confirming the facts. In case of damage, contact the nearest police station urgently. In case of damage, please contact your nearest police station urgently.
Based on the enforcement of "Act on Damage Recovery Benefit Distributed from Fund in Bank Accounts Used for Crimes" (hereinafter referred to as "the Criminal Accounts Damage Recovery Act"), Sony Bank shall accept inquiries from customers who have transferred funds for criminal damage such as "bank transfer fraud" to Sony Bank's account.
"The Criminal Accounts Damage Recovery Act" stipulates the procedures for reimbursement of a positive balance of funds to crime victims that have been transferred to illicit accounts of financial institutions by financial criminals such as "bank transfer fraud".
Sony Bank intends to take further measures to prevent bank transfer fraud and proceeds to return funds to from frozen accounts with a positive balance that were victimized by bank transfer fraud according to the Criminal Accounts Damage Recovery Act.
Sony Bank conducts the customer identity verification in accordance with laws and regulations when opening an account. Please be understanding if we have to ask you to confirm your identity again when withdrawing deposits, etc. to prevent illicit withdrawals of deposits and uses of accounts.
In addition, "Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds" prohibits you with punishment to receive from or give to another person a passbook, cash card, etc. for the purpose of using the account by pretending to be another person. Sony Bank accounts cannot be sold or lent, as stated in Sony Bank's Terms and Conditions for Savings Account, and third parties are not permitted to use accounts. In the event of a violation of the Terms and Conditions, we may suspend or cancel your account.
Please be cautious of promotions, such as those on social media, that claim high income through "buying and selling accounts" and "side jobs or part-time jobs using accounts"
Selling accounts and opening accounts by impersonating others is a criminal offense. Sold accounts can be used for crimes such as money laundering and fraud, including "bank transfer fraud" and "investment fraud". If your account is used for fraud or other purposes, you may be charged with a crime. In addition, if you are required to return funds to the victims, you may incur substantial debt.
There has also been an increase in criminal fund transfers, where criminals pay fees to account holders as a side job or part-time job to make transactions on their behalf. If you accept such an offer, criminals may transfer funds to your account from victims of bank transfer fraud, etc., and then exchange those criminal funds for crypto assets, which may involve you in criminal activities, such as fraud, money laundering, etc.
If someone offers you an 'easy income' job or transactions, please be aware that it may lead to involvement in criminal activities and never engage in buying or selling bank accounts, or in side jobs or part-time jobs that use such accounts.
- If you detect the selling, buying, transferring (including receiving) of your account
- If a customer engages in the fraudulent transfer of bank accounts, Sony Bank reserves the right to suspend or even cancel the account. In addition, a customer may not be able to open new accounts at Sony Bank and other financial institutions for a long duration of time.
Fraudulent transfer of bank accounts, including selling, buying, transferring, and renting of accounts, is a criminal offence and is subject to penalties for both the seller and the buyer, as well as the lender and the borrower. In addition, engaging in side jobs and part-time jobs that involve the misuse of bank accounts may also be considered as crimes such as fraud, etc. Please do not engage in such activities under any circumstances.
If you have been deceived, or if you have mistakenly sold or lent your account, and it has been used by a third party, please contact our English help desk immediately and we will suspend the use of your account to prevent further damage.
Please be careful with cash card theft, pickpocketing and purse-snatching.
In addition to your cash card, please keep your identification documents (driver's license, passport, etc.) in a separate and secure place.
Please contact our English help desk immediately if you notice any unauthorized use of your card, such as:
- Illegal use of Sony Bank WALLET due to theft or counterfeiting
- Unauthorized use of Online banking due to spyware or phishing
- Financial crime such as fund transfer fraud
Please also report to your local police station.