A recent investigation by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has uncovered 1,454 suspicious transactions made through hacked online accounts at six major securities companies. The transactions occurred between February 1 and April 16, totaling 95.4 billion yen in stock sales and purchases.
Scammers are believed to have obtained account information through phishing tactics, creating fake websites similar to those of the firms. They then used these accounts to buy and sell stocks, artificially inflating prices to maximize profits.
Notably, customers whose accounts were compromised have not yet experienced any fraudulent money withdrawals. The FSA advises consumers to implement robust security measures provided by their respective securities firms, such as multi-factor authentication.
The agency’s discovery highlights the growing threat of cybersecurity breaches in Japan’s financial sector and underscores the importance of protecting sensitive account information.
Source: https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2025041800589/1-454-stock-transactions-via-hacked-accounts-found-in-japan.html