Finance
銀行からの重要なお知らせ: 'Important Notice from Your Bank' Explained (and bank scams)
A document labelled 重要なお知らせ (important notice) is an official letter from a bank where you hold an account, and it is usually a request or an announcement. Common contents include a notice about a 休眠預金 (dormant account) that has had no activity for a long time, a change to the account terms, fees or rules, or a request to confirm your registered address or identity. ⛔ A real bank NEVER asks for your PIN, internet-banking password or your full card number by a mailed reply, an SMS link, or a phone call — anything that does is a bank-impersonation scam (phishing). What is being asked differs per letter, so first check the sender (the bank name), the purpose, and the contact details printed on your own notice.
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⛔ Beware bank-impersonation phishing: an SMS or email that copies a bank's name and logo says 'confirm your account', 'your account is suspended', or 'we suspect fraud', creates fear, and pushes you to click a link to a fake site and enter your PIN, password, card number or one-time password. A real bank NEVER asks for your PIN, full password or full card number by mail-reply, SMS or phone. If anything feels off, do not use that link or number — open the official app, or call back the legitimate number printed on the back of your cash card yourself to verify.
Who receives it
Anyone who holds an account at that bank. If you have an account with no deposits or withdrawals for a long time, you may get a dormant-account notice; when terms or fees change, all customers get an announcement; and if your registered details may be outdated, you may be asked to confirm your address or identity. Nationality does not matter. ⛔ On the other hand, if a bank you have NO account with suddenly sends an 'important notice' by SMS or email, or you are pressured to click a link and enter a password, strongly suspect a scam.
What to do
- 1Confirm the sender is a bank where you actually hold an account (don't trust a bank name, branch or logo alone).
- 2Read the purpose: a dormant-account (休眠預金) notice, a change to terms or fees, an address / identity confirmation, or similar.
- 3If action is needed, do it through the bank's official app or the legitimate phone number / website printed on your cash card or passbook — never through a link in an SMS or email.
- 4Handle address changes or identity checks through a branch counter, the official app, or genuine mailed forms. You never need to give your full PIN or password.
- 5⛔ If you are asked for a password, PIN, your full card number, or a one-time password, or pressured to click a link quickly, do not comply — call back the legitimate number on the back of your card yourself and verify.
About the deadline
An 'important notice' differs by content. A terms-change or informational notice is not a bill you must pay by a date — it is something to read and be aware of. An address or identity confirmation, or a dormant-account notice, may state a return or handling deadline. ⛔ Deadlines and any amounts differ per notice, so always check the date and contact details printed on your own document. Even if an account becomes dormant, in most cases you can still withdraw the money through the proper procedure — don't leave it; contact the bank early to be safe.
Common misunderstandings
- The bank sent an SMS with a link saying 'confirm your account details'. Is it real?
- It is very likely not real. Banks generally do not have you enter a password or PIN through an SMS or email link. Don't tap the link; open the official app, or call the legitimate number on the back of your card yourself to check. This is a classic phishing pattern.
- I got a 'dormant account' (休眠預金) notice. Is my money already taken?
- No — in most cases the balance is not gone and you can still withdraw it through the proper procedure. A long-inactive account may be treated as 'dormant' by the system, but you can usually restore access at a branch or in the app with your passbook, cash card and ID. Check the contact on the notice for details.
- How do I tell a genuine bank notice from a scam one?
- The clearest test is what it asks for. A genuine notice comes from a bank you hold an account with and does not make you enter your full password or PIN via a link. If unsure, ignore the link and number in the message and contact the bank using the legitimate number on the back of your card or the official website.
- I got a postcard or letter asking to confirm my address. Can I reply?
- If it is a genuine document from a bank you actually hold an account with, an address confirmation is a common procedure. But anything that makes you write out your full PIN or password is not genuine. If unsure, don't reply — verify through the official app or the legitimate number first, then respond.
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This page is general information. For your own case, confirm with the office that issued the document, or with a qualified professional.