As scam cases and financial losses continue to rise in Japan, the National Police Agency reported an 8.4% increase in scam reports last year (2023), with total financial losses reaching 45.26 billion yen, a 22% year-on-year increase. In response to the growing threat of scam in Japan, TrustTech leading provider Gogolook announced today that its Japanese subsidiary, Whoscall, has entered into a partnership with Japanese telecommunications company Rakuten Mobile. This collaboration will offer Rakuten Mobile users the exclusive”迷惑電話・SMS対策 by Whoscall” (Caller-ID & SMS Filter by Whoscall) product and payment solutions. The partnership aims to protect a broad user base, and the sales plan has officially launched.

According to the “2023 Asia Scam Survey Report” by GASA and Gogolook, the top three channels through which Japanese citizens encounter scam are email (34%), SMS (44%), and phone calls (34%), highlighting the prevalence of scam via traditional communication methods. With the development of generative AI,the sophistication and frequency of scam are expected to rise, making prevention more challenging and necessary. Since 2020, Whoscall has collaborated with governments in cities such as Fukuoka, Shibuya (Tokyo), and Yokohama (Kanagawa), receiving official recognition with its anti-scam services .

This collaboration with Rakuten Mobile, one of Japan’s four major telecom operators, further solidifies Whoscall’s reputation. By leveraging Rakuten Mobile’s well-established local telecom ecosystem, the partnership will offer the “Anti-Scam Call & SMS by Whoscall” service to enhance customer protection against scam and harassment, increasing the service’s penetration rate.

Jeff Kuo, CEO and co-founder of Gogolook, stated, “The international market is a key growth driver for Gogolook. After extensive efforts, we have gained the trust of a major Japanese telecom operator, highlighting the value of our product. With this landmark partnership, our Japanese team will continue to advance collaborations with large enterprises and local governments, introducing and developing more anti-scam solutions needed in Japan to jointly protect the safety of Japanese citizens.”