Japan Credit Association, Chuo University launch anti-scam browser game
The free game lets players operate a character's smartphone from three minutes before a fake-police call, with police agency cooperation.
Classroom Adventure, the Japan Consumer Credit Association and Chuo University's Atsunori Ariga laboratory released a free browser game simulating a fake-police phone scam on October 28, according to gamebusiness.jp. The game runs in smartphone, tablet and PC browsers with no registration or app install, and the National Police Agency cooperated on it.
Players choose one of three characters — a 42-year-old office worker, a 17-year-old high school student or a 70-year-old man — and operate that person's smartphone from three minutes before an incoming call. The simulation recreates both a standard smartphone and a large-text handset for older users, including the lock screen, notifications and app switching.
Each character's device holds fictional message and banking apps plus between 90 and 226 photos. The story follows known scam tactics: a call from an international number ending in 0110, adding an ID on a message app, an arrest warrant bearing the character's real name, an instruction not to tell anyone, and a transfer made while on a video call.
The experience lasts about 7 to 11 minutes and is followed by a 3 to 5 minute review of where the player was deceived and how to respond.
Earlier work on illegal part-time jobs
Classroom Adventure previously made a game about a character drawn into an illegal part-time job, according to gamebusiness.jp.
Quick answers
Where can I play the scam simulation game?
It is a free browser game playable on smartphone, tablet and PC without registration or an app install.
How long does the game take?
The experience runs about 7 to 11 minutes, followed by a 3 to 5 minute review of where the player was deceived.
Which characters can players choose?
A 42-year-old office worker, a 17-year-old high school student or a 70-year-old man, each with their own smartphone.