Yahoo! Kurashi Teams Up with Police Across Japan to Enhance Security Awareness

Introduction

Yahoo! Kurashi, a vital community information service provided by LINE Yahoo, recently made headlines by establishing safety agreements with police departments across all 47 prefectures in Japan. This collaboration aims to enhance public safety awareness through the timely provision of crime-related information, particularly focusing on cyber threats such as phishing scams and unauthorized access.

Service Overview

Yahoo! Kurashi's platform enables users to receive crucial updates on emergencies, safety information, and news from their local municipalities and police departments. Through the Yahoo! JAPAN app and the Yahoo! Disaster Alert app, users can get notifications tailored to their specified regions, ensuring that community members stay informed about relevant crimes and safety measures.

Increasing Cyber Crime

With a dramatic rise in criminal activities exploiting cyberspace, the National Police Agency's statistics highlight a staggering increase in phishing incidents, predicting an increase of approximately 560,000 cases (a significant 89%) in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, losses associated with unauthorized fund transfers related to online banking reached around 4.224 billion yen, emphasizing the urgent need for improved cyber security measures.

In light of this alarming scenario, Yahoo! Kurashi has made significant strides by expanding its safety agreements from 34 prefectural police to all national departments by collaborating with the Cyber Police Bureau of the National Police Agency. As a result, both the Yahoo! JAPAN app and Yahoo! Disaster Alert app now provide users with alerts not only about local crimes like burglaries and muggings but also crucial alerts on phishing scams and fraudulent transactions occurring in cyberspace across Japan.

Distribution of Information

The crime prevention alerts are provided by the Cyber Crime and Cyber Security departments of each prefectural police headquarters. Users can personalize their notification preferences, allowing them to receive push notifications about crime prevention information directly via the Yahoo! JAPAN app and the Yahoo! Disaster Alert app. This feature empowers users to stay up to date with issues concerning their locality, enhancing their awareness of potential criminal activities.

This initiative also benefits the prefectural police as they can effectively disseminate crucial information to a broader audience, facilitating rapid communication of crime prevention advice and raising awareness about cyber crimes within communities. It's a strategic move aimed at equipping residents with necessary insights to protect themselves and remain vigilant against threats.

Additional Resources

Apart from push notifications on mobile apps, updates can also be accessed through the Yahoo! Kurashi webpage, where users can find public information in both PC and smartphone browser formats, making the information accessible to everyone, regardless of their device.

Conclusion

Under its mission to create a 'WOW' lifestyle platform and deliver excitement in everyday life, LINE Yahoo's Yahoo! Kurashi continues to evolve and offer services that not only enhance convenience but also support the safety of local residents through proactive information sharing. Moving forward, Yahoo! Kurashi aims to expand its efforts to combat crime effectively, fostering a safer environment for all.

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