Press Conference by KATO Katsunobu, Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services

(Excerpt)

(Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 9:05 am to 9:08 am)

[Questions and answers:]

Q.

It has been revealed that customer IDs were hacked by a phishing scam and malware attack at SBI Securities, resulting in fraudulent transactions. In addition, there have been frequent cases of low-priced stocks fluctuating unnaturally in relation to the fraudulent transactions at Rakuten Securities, and there have been concerns about their connection. The situation has become such that it is no longer just a problem for individual companies, so I would like to ask you for your thoughts on this matter.
Also, the Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA) has been reminding its members to take security measures, but I would like to ask if the Financial Services Agency (FSA) intends to take any measures.

A.

First of all, I understand that each company is conducting a thorough investigation into the details of the fraudulent transactions. I think the important thing is to consider what kind of response should be taken based on the status of each customer’s transactions.
The FSA will also check on the situation and ensure that customers are dealt with appropriately.