TOKYO -- Fundraising activities have begun in Japan in response to the deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar, but donators must be on guard as there have been cases of scammers trying to profit from charity fraud following disasters.

In the wake of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, four men including a gang leader were arrested on suspicion of fraud for posing as street fundraisers in Osaka, Hyogo and Nara prefectures of western Japan's Kansai region for about two months starting four days after the disaster. The men in their 30s to 40s allegedly swindled a total of around 380,000 yen (roughly $2,530) in cash.

The suspects are said to have had 12 acquaintances stand around stations and other public places carrying donation boxes. These men and women wore matching jackets and claimed to be from the "Kansai volunteer association," handing out leaflets printed with, "We support those affected by the disaster."

In a separate case, a man in his 20s was arrested about a week after the same disaster on suspicion of defrauding some 12,000 yen (approx. $80) by asking pedestrians to "please donate for disaster victims" while pushing a bicycle. He was reportedly using a cardboard donation box with a piece of paper pasted on it that read "Tohoku-Kanto mega earthquake relief fund."

During the same period, a different man, in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of attempted fraud for calling the residence of an elderly woman, saying, "I'm collecting donations for disaster victims," in an attempt to make her transfer money to his bank account.

According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, in a case after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, someone received a call from a woman claiming to be a volunteer who said, "We're fundraising for the Kumamoto earthquakes, and it's 3,000 yen (about $20) per donation." Similarly, in the aftermath of the 2024 Noto Peninsula quake, there was reportedly a young man who called and claimed, "The city is collecting donations for the Noto Peninsula earthquake."

The Consumer Affairs Agency has been urging people to "carefully check the activities and usage of donations by organizations that are fundraising, and donate only when satisfied (with the policy)" when disasters occur.

(Japanese original by Koji Endo, Tokyo City News Department)