SAPPORO -- "I'm buying bitcoin. I have to send money within an hour!"

A distressed elderly man avoided becoming a victim of fraud thanks to attentive bank employees in Hokkaido. It was the third time they had foiled an attempted scam at their branch in 2024 alone. In the wake of the incidents, the bank shared tips with the Mainichi Shimbun to stop people from falling victim.

Tensions were high at a counter in the Shiroishi Chuo Branch of North Pacific Bank in Sapporo's Shiroishi Ward on Nov. 18 as the man, aged in his 70s, tried to send money.

"I'm profiting from an investment, which is increasing sevenfold. If I can't transfer the money and lose out, can North Pacific Bank take responsibility?" he demanded.

Listening to the flustered man's voice growing louder as he sought to send the money, something clicked for part-time worker Sayuri Kishida. "This could be investment fraud," she thought.

Kishida was one of the best responders at the branch, having thwarted an attempt to defraud a customer of 300,000 yen (roughly $1,900) with a fake bill in January.

"Please let me confirm the recipient," she calmly told the elderly customer, and reported what was going on to her superior and contacted Hokkaido Prefectural Police's Shiroishi Police Station.

The customer had been introduced to an "investment analyst" by a woman he met on a dating app, and was convinced the investment would pay off. While explaining the details of the situation to the dispatched police officers, it became clear the account into which he was going to deposit the money was being used for fraud. The man was spared a loss of some 1.34 million yen ($8,500).

According to Kishida, branch manager Ryo Okamoto and others, the key terms they watch out for to prevent people from being defrauded include "investment," "consultant," "analyst" and "principle guarantee."

They also hold that it's important to notice customers who explain their situation based on messages over the Line app, and those who appear to be in a hurry.

Kishida explained that she sometimes encounters customers who push back by asking things like, "Why is it necessary to provide these details?" but, she said with a smile, "I don't want to allow them to go through the pain of losing their money. I'll keep talking to them and aim to be No. 1 (at preventing fraud)."

By actively taking steps such as holding study sessions with financial institutions in the area, since 2015 the branch has prevented victims from losing a total of 4.5 million yen ($28,600) in five fraud attempts. Recognizing these efforts, Hokkaido police's community safety department chief Satoru Hisada on Dec. 23 presented a letter of appreciation to the branch.

Inspector Tomonori Nishinaka of the force's community safety planning division said, "Bank counters are the last line of defense for fraud prevention. We'll continue to cooperate with them to reduce harm."

(Japanese original by Karen Goto, Hokkaido News Department)