Beware of Scams Targeting Long Holidays with Increased Travel and Returns Home! Whoscall Reveals Tactics and Countermeasures for Impersonating Accommodation Booking Sites, Transportation, and Relatives
Whoscall Inc. has released information on fraud tactics and countermeasures that tend to increase during long holidays, impersonating accommodation booking sites, transportation, and relatives. Citing National Police Agency data, it warns of a sharp increase in phishing and special fraud damages.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 02:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 18:02
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 18:41 (38 min after Collected)
Whoscall Inc. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, CEO: Jeff Kuo) is releasing alert information on tactics and countermeasures for scams that tend to increase during long holidays.
During the long holiday season, when travel and returning home opportunities increase, the risk of damage from phishing scams impersonating accommodation booking sites and transportation, as well as impersonation scams targeting relatives, tends to rise.
Phishing scams, which trick users into fake websites from emails, SMS, or advertisements impersonating real companies or organizations to steal account information and credit card details, are increasing year by year. According to the National Police Agency, the number of reported cases in Reiwa 7 (2025) exceeded approximately 2.45 million, a rapid increase of about 1.4 times compared to the previous year (*1). Furthermore, "ore-ore (It's me, it's me) fraud," which impersonates police or relatives, saw damages of 112.1 billion yen in Reiwa 7, a 145% increase from the previous year. Special caution is needed during periods when contact among family members increases due to returning home (*2).
In past long holidays, there have also been reports of victims being guided to phishing sites from emails or advertisements impersonating accommodation booking sites or airlines/railways, and financial damage from scams impersonating relatives.
This time, we will introduce points to prevent damage before it occurs, along with actual fraud tactics. Travel-related scams can not only lead to financial loss but also troubles such as being unable to stay at the destination. Let's be sufficiently careful to enjoy the long holidays with peace of mind.
(*1) National Police Agency "Status of Threats Surrounding Cyberspace in Reiwa 7"
(*2) National Police Agency "Status of Recognition and Arrests of Special Scams and SNS-based Investment/Romance Scams in Reiwa 7 (Provisional Values)"
Fraud Tactics and Countermeasures Targeting Long Holidays
■ Be suspicious of extreme discounts – Phishing scams impersonating "accommodation booking sites"
Damage has occurred where users are led to phishing sites impersonating accommodation booking sites via social media or fake advertisements, and credit card information is stolen. In particular, cases have been confirmed where access is encouraged by displaying prices significantly lower than appropriate rates.
Fake sites are characterized by skillfully mimicking the design and logo of official sites, making them difficult to distinguish. When using such sites, please be sufficiently careful, such as checking if the URL is legitimate.
[Example Tactics]
▶︎ Inducing access to fake sites by presenting significantly lower prices with phrases like "Limited time only" or "GW only."
▶︎ Prompting credit card information entry on the phishing site's booking page.
[Key Checkpoints]
✔️ Check if the price is extremely low compared to other sites.
✔️ Check if the URL domain is unnatural.
■ Don't panic at alarming communications like 'Reservation Cancellation' or 'Unpaid Fees'! Scams impersonating airlines or railway companies
Suspicious calls, SMS, or emails impersonating airlines or railway companies have been confirmed, citing reasons such as "reservation cancellation" or "unpaid fees." These communications aim to incite user anxiety and hinder calm judgment. It is important not to panic and to question whether the communication is legitimate.
[Example Tactics]
▶︎ Impersonating airlines or railway companies and contacting for reasons like "reservation cancellation," "additional fees," or "unpaid fees."
▶︎ Guiding to a phishing site via a link in the message and prompting login information or credit card entry.
[Key Checkpoints]
✔️ Be especially careful if alarming expressions like "Important," "Urgent," or "Warning" are used.
✔️ Do not click on URLs in messages; access official sites directly from your browser.
■ If a relative calls with a changed phone number, call back their original number! Impersonation scams targeting relatives during homecoming season
Ore-ore fraud impersonating relatives occurs during the homecoming season, when contact among family members increases. Cases include contacting with messages like "my phone broke, so my number changed" to make the new contact believable, and then feigning emergencies like "I got into trouble and need settlement money" or "my wallet was stolen" to demand money transfers or electronic payments.
[Example Tactics]
▶︎ Contacting with "my phone broke" or "number changed" to register a fake contact.
▶︎ After making the new number believable, feigning sudden trouble and demanding money transfer.
[Key Checkpoints]
✔️ Even if told "the number has changed," call back the original phone number to verify the facts.
✔️ Verify identity using a password known only to family members or specific anecdotes.
Comment from Yumi Akutsu, Whoscall Japan Marketing Manager:
Long holidays, while increasing travel and homecoming, are also periods when scam damages targeting these activities are likely to occur. In recent years, victims have been guided to phishing sites from emails or SMS impersonating accommodation booking sites or airlines.
During the long holiday season, when travel and returning home opportunities increase, the risk of damage from phishing scams impersonating accommodation booking sites and transportation, as well as impersonation scams targeting relatives, tends to rise.
Phishing scams, which trick users into fake websites from emails, SMS, or advertisements impersonating real companies or organizations to steal account information and credit card details, are increasing year by year. According to the National Police Agency, the number of reported cases in Reiwa 7 (2025) exceeded approximately 2.45 million, a rapid increase of about 1.4 times compared to the previous year (*1). Furthermore, "ore-ore (It's me, it's me) fraud," which impersonates police or relatives, saw damages of 112.1 billion yen in Reiwa 7, a 145% increase from the previous year. Special caution is needed during periods when contact among family members increases due to returning home (*2).
In past long holidays, there have also been reports of victims being guided to phishing sites from emails or advertisements impersonating accommodation booking sites or airlines/railways, and financial damage from scams impersonating relatives.
This time, we will introduce points to prevent damage before it occurs, along with actual fraud tactics. Travel-related scams can not only lead to financial loss but also troubles such as being unable to stay at the destination. Let's be sufficiently careful to enjoy the long holidays with peace of mind.
(*1) National Police Agency "Status of Threats Surrounding Cyberspace in Reiwa 7"
(*2) National Police Agency "Status of Recognition and Arrests of Special Scams and SNS-based Investment/Romance Scams in Reiwa 7 (Provisional Values)"
Fraud Tactics and Countermeasures Targeting Long Holidays
■ Be suspicious of extreme discounts – Phishing scams impersonating "accommodation booking sites"
Damage has occurred where users are led to phishing sites impersonating accommodation booking sites via social media or fake advertisements, and credit card information is stolen. In particular, cases have been confirmed where access is encouraged by displaying prices significantly lower than appropriate rates.
Fake sites are characterized by skillfully mimicking the design and logo of official sites, making them difficult to distinguish. When using such sites, please be sufficiently careful, such as checking if the URL is legitimate.
[Example Tactics]
▶︎ Inducing access to fake sites by presenting significantly lower prices with phrases like "Limited time only" or "GW only."
▶︎ Prompting credit card information entry on the phishing site's booking page.
[Key Checkpoints]
✔️ Check if the price is extremely low compared to other sites.
✔️ Check if the URL domain is unnatural.
■ Don't panic at alarming communications like 'Reservation Cancellation' or 'Unpaid Fees'! Scams impersonating airlines or railway companies
Suspicious calls, SMS, or emails impersonating airlines or railway companies have been confirmed, citing reasons such as "reservation cancellation" or "unpaid fees." These communications aim to incite user anxiety and hinder calm judgment. It is important not to panic and to question whether the communication is legitimate.
[Example Tactics]
▶︎ Impersonating airlines or railway companies and contacting for reasons like "reservation cancellation," "additional fees," or "unpaid fees."
▶︎ Guiding to a phishing site via a link in the message and prompting login information or credit card entry.
[Key Checkpoints]
✔️ Be especially careful if alarming expressions like "Important," "Urgent," or "Warning" are used.
✔️ Do not click on URLs in messages; access official sites directly from your browser.
■ If a relative calls with a changed phone number, call back their original number! Impersonation scams targeting relatives during homecoming season
Ore-ore fraud impersonating relatives occurs during the homecoming season, when contact among family members increases. Cases include contacting with messages like "my phone broke, so my number changed" to make the new contact believable, and then feigning emergencies like "I got into trouble and need settlement money" or "my wallet was stolen" to demand money transfers or electronic payments.
[Example Tactics]
▶︎ Contacting with "my phone broke" or "number changed" to register a fake contact.
▶︎ After making the new number believable, feigning sudden trouble and demanding money transfer.
[Key Checkpoints]
✔️ Even if told "the number has changed," call back the original phone number to verify the facts.
✔️ Verify identity using a password known only to family members or specific anecdotes.
Comment from Yumi Akutsu, Whoscall Japan Marketing Manager:
Long holidays, while increasing travel and homecoming, are also periods when scam damages targeting these activities are likely to occur. In recent years, victims have been guided to phishing sites from emails or SMS impersonating accommodation booking sites or airlines.