Japan turns to AI in fight against investment fraud

The Consumer Affairs Agency said Tuesday it will step up its fight against investment and other fraud promising lucrative returns by using generative artificial intelligence technology to enhance information analysis.

A group established within the agency the same day will utilize the technology to find schemes with similar patterns to past fraud cases and malicious business operators to enable quicker intervention, the agency said, announcing a set of measures against the type of scheme that attracts large amounts of money by promising high returns before eventually collapsing.

“Recovery is difficult once the damage (from fraud) is done, so it is important to respond quickly,” consumer affairs minister Hitoshi Kikawada told a news conference.

The new group will run a generative AI system to analyze cases reported to the National Consumer Affairs Center’s information system for consultation, which number about 900,000 annually.

The system is designed to identify suspicious schemes and detect early signs of business failures, based on its data on distinctive solicitation phrases and other characteristics extracted from past reported cases.

It is difficult to take administrative measures like issuing orders unless the agency receives specific complaints, including about failures to pay promised dividends, according to the agency.

If early signs of business failures can be detected, the agency will be able to respond more swiftly to malicious operators and provide more timely warnings to consumers.

The agency also plans to gather information on reported consultation cases and tricks used by malicious operators by sending experts from the consumer affairs center nationwide starting next fiscal year.