Japan Police Provide Protection in 544 “Dark” Job Cases

Tokyo, Jan. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police provided protection to applicants for so-called “dark” part-time jobs and their families in a total of 544 cases as of the end of last November, according to the National Police Agency. The NPA is calling on people who have applied for illicit part-time jobs, such as carrying out robberies and fraud, to consult the police without hesitation. The agency said that criminal groups soliciting such job applicants often threaten them using their personal information, but authorities have not confirmed any cases in which applicants or related people were harmed after being placed under police protection. The NPA instructed prefectural police departments in October 2024 to take appropriate protective measures when they receive consultations from dark job applicants, such as temporarily relocating applicants and their families and strengthening patrols in nearby areas. It has also released educational videos on the matter. Since then, police around the country have taken protective measures at the request of applicants, their guardians or others in a total of 544 cases as of last November. People in their 20s made up 45.2 pct of the applicants given police protection, while those in their 10s accounted for 24.8 pct and those in their 30s accounted for 13.6 pct. The most common reason cited for applying for dark jobs was being introduced to them by acquaintances, at 30.7 pct. Meanwhile, 23.2 pct said they applied after seeing solicitations on X, formerly Twitter, and 21.9 pct said they saw posts on other social media platforms. Police are urging platform operators to delete posts offering dark jobs and are warning people through police-related X accounts. In 132 of the 544 cases, applicants were told by perpetrators to buy or sell bank accounts and mobile phones. The number of job offers involving fraud activities stood at 124, while those related to theft or robbery totaled 17. Most of the applicants who were offered jobs involving making fraud calls were told to travel to foreign countries, including Cambodia. In an interview, one applicant placed under protection said the job had been described as a “white,” nonillicit job. After being required to submit My Number personal identification card information, the applicant was threatened for refusing to engage in illegal activities. In another case, a person who applied for a job advertised as high-paying was instructed to transport an item. Although the applicant followed the instruction, the applicant was told to take responsibility for the failed job and pay money. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]