A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of electronic computer fraud in a case involving the takeover of securities accounts and unauthorized stock trading in Japan.
In a significant development concerning a securities account takeover case in Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced the arrest of 28-year-old Kentaro Yamatani on charges of electronic computer fraud. Yamatani is alleged to have acted as an 'account preparer' who opened a securities account with the intention of transferring it to others in exchange for a reward. He has reportedly admitted to the charges. The police believe that he was involved in the unauthorized trading of stocks, which resulted in significant financial gains from the illicit operations.
According to the Cyber Crime Countermeasures Unit, Yamatani is suspected of transferring 5.32 million yen obtained from illegal stock trading through his securities account to a bank account three times between April 8 and 15, 2025. The original perpetrator behind the unauthorized stock trading remains unidentified. The securities account in question was established on April 7, 2025, and was reportedly taken over by unknown individuals the following day, leading to repeated trading of 12 stocks and generating a profit of 1.32 million yen.
