Data_Sheet_1_Who Is Next? A Study on Victims of Financial Fraud in Japan.PDF

Japan has seen an increase in the incidents of financial frauds over the last couple of decades. Although authorities are aware of the problem, an effective solution eludes them as fraudsters use innovative swindling methods and continually change the target group. Using a nationwide survey conducted by Hiroshima University, Japan, in 2020, this study investigated the socioeconomic and psychological profiles of victims of trending and special financial fraud such as fictitious billing fraud, loan guarantee fraud, and refund fraud. It was found that financial fraud victims' profiles are dissimilar at the aggregate and specific levels. At the specific level, victim profiles were diverse, that is, in fictitious billing fraud, loan guarantee fraud, and refund fraud cases. Males, married, and financially less satisfied people were more often victims of fictitious billing fraud; less anxious people were more likely victims of loan guarantee fraud; and older, asset-holding, and less-income-generating respondents were found to be victims of refund fraud. Our results also show some commonalities in the victims' profiles. For example, financially less-literate people were found to be more likely victims of fictitious billing fraud and loan guarantee fraud. Finally, respondents who lived with their family, those who did not have careful buying habits, and those who suffer from bouts of loneliness were found to be common victims of all types of special financial fraud. The results of our study suggest that a one-size-fits-all policy cannot effectively combat financial fraud.

近几十年来，日本金融欺诈案件数量呈现出上升趋势。尽管当局已意识到这一问题，但有效的解决方案始终未能捉摸。欺诈者运用创新的诈骗手段，并不断变换目标群体，使得这一问题愈发棘手。2020年，日本广岛大学进行了一次全国性调查，本研究旨在探究流行及特殊金融欺诈（如虚假账单欺诈、贷款担保欺诈和退款欺诈）受害者的社会经济和心理特征。研究发现，在整体和具体层面，金融欺诈受害者的特征均存在差异。在具体层面，受害者特征呈现出多样性，即在虚假账单欺诈、贷款担保欺诈和退款欺诈案例中。男性、已婚以及经济满意度较低的人群更易成为虚假账单欺诈的受害者；焦虑感较低的人群更可能成为贷款担保欺诈的受害者；而年龄较大、持有资产以及收入较低的调查对象则更易成为退款欺诈的受害者。研究结果表明，在受害者特征中存在一些共性。例如，金融知识水平较低的人群更易成为虚假账单欺诈和贷款担保欺诈的受害者。最终，与家人同住、购物习惯不够谨慎以及时常感到孤独的调查对象被发现是所有类型特殊金融欺诈的共同受害者。本研究的结果表明，单一的政策方案无法有效遏制金融欺诈现象。