Scammers steal $113,000 via NTT Docomo's e-money service

NTT Docomo Inc. will suspend its e-money service for customers of its 35 partner banks after $113,000 were stolen from bank accounts.

The company will compensate victims for the full amounts stolen and make its identity confirmation process stricter for withdrawing money.

Third parties were able to steal bank account numbers and passwords to open NTT Docomo e-money service accounts and steal money from the victims.

It is not clear how information was stolen.

None of the banks said their system networks were compromised, making it possible that phishing emails were used.

At least 10 of the 35 lenders, including Japan Post Bank, Aeon Bank, 77 Bank, Toho Bank, and Chugoku Bank, were hit by 37 cases of improper withdrawals.

The 77 Bank in Miyagi prefecture, Toho Bank in Fukushima prefecture, and Chugoku Bank in Okayama prefecture have reported such cases to local police.

Japan Post Bank said it would stop customers from registering or changing bank accounts to use NTT Docomo's e-money service.

Users can pay for shopping and transfer money among other functions through the NTT Docomo service by linking their bank accounts.

They can send or pay a maximum of $944 per transaction and up to $2830 a month.