40% Of People Involved In Japan Crime Groups Applied For "Dark Gigs"

A total of 4,472 people nationwide were arrested or investigated between April and October this year on suspicion of involvement in so-called "anonymous and fluid crime groups," where individuals switch roles as perpetrators for each case.

By crime type, 1,515 individuals were involved in violations of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds, such as transferring bank accounts.

Of these, 1,820 individuals—40%—had applied for "dark gigs" through social media, according to provisional figures released by the National Police Agency, reported by Masakatsu Yamasaki for Mainichi Japan.

By crime type, 1,515 individuals were involved in violations of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds, such as transferring bank accounts.

This was followed by 1,284 in fraud cases, 427 in drug-related crimes (e.g., narcotics control law violations), 398 in theft, 170 in anti-organized crime law violations (e.g., concealing criminal proceeds), 133 in robberies, and 89 in immigration law violations.

Other crimes included 76 violations of the adult entertainment business law, 57 cases of extortion, and 49 gambling-related offenses.

These loosely linked, anonymous groups often use highly secure communication apps, such as Signal, which complicates efforts to apprehend ringleaders. As a result, most individuals apprehended are believed to be low-level operatives.