Feb.22.2005

Japanese Bankers Association

Survey on Stolen Passbooks

JBA conducted a survey of its 180 member banks on the "Quantity and amount of withdrawals using stolen passbooks," "Quantity of accounts suspended or cancelled by banks due to illegal use" and "Quantity and amount of withdrawals using counterfeit cash cards."

(Table 1) Withdrawals Using Stolen Passbooks

(number of cases, million yen)

Period Cases Amount
April---June 2003 244 804
July---Sep. 2003 183 685
Oct.---Dec. 2003 140 246
Jan.---March 2004 107 223
April---June 2004 55 51
July---Sep. 2004 80 71
Oct.---Dec. 2004 80 166
Notes: 1. These figures depict cases in which actual withdrawals had been made by the time banks were notified by customers that withdrawals had been made using stolen passbooks.
2. The period indicates when banks were notified by customers that withdrawals had been made using stolen passbooks.
3. The figures for cases represent the number of account holders.

(Table 2) Account Suspension and Cancellation by Banks Due to Illegal Use
(number of cases)
Period Suspension Cancellation Total
April---June 2003 733 583 (320) 996
July---Sep. 2003 2,512 1,749 (648) 3,613
Oct.---Dec. 2003 6,181 5,466 (2,489) 9,158
Jan.---Mar. 2004 8,792 8,039 (4,754) 12,077
April---June 2004 7,714 7,687 (4,974) 10,427
July---Sep. 2004 10,858 8,555 (5,340) 14,073
Oct.---Dec. 2004 12,913 9,460 (8,549) 13,824

Notes: 1. The illegal use of accounts refers to bank accounts used for illegal/criminal purposes (examples include designating accounts for payments to loan sharks, designating accounts for payment of false invoices related to website use and "it's me" fraud).
2. The figures represent the number of accounts.
3. The figures in parentheses are the number of cancelled accounts for which use had already been suspended.
4. The figures in parentheses are not included in the total.

(Table 3) Withdrawals Using Counterfeit Cash Cards
(number of cases, million yen)
Period Cases Amount
Fiscal 2001 1 19
Fiscal 2002 3 13
Fiscal 2003 92 277
April---June 2004 53 188
July---Sep. 2004 68 271
Oct.---Dec. 2004 186 348
Notes: 1. The figures illustrate cases where banks believe counterfeit cash cards were used to make withdrawals or cash loan transactions.
2. The period indicates when withdrawals were made using counterfeit cash cards.
3. The figures for cases represent the number of account holders.