Beware of Impersonation: Osaka City Warns Public About Fake Social Media Accounts
Osaka City has issued a public advisory urging residents and interested parties to exercise caution regarding fraudulent social media accounts that are impersonating the official channels of the Osaka Prefectural and Osaka City Expo Promotion Bureau’s Momentum Building Department. The announcement, published on July 29, 2025, at 5:00 AM, highlights a growing concern for cybersecurity and the safeguarding of public trust in official communications.
The proliferation of “impersonation accounts” on social media platforms poses a significant risk, as these fraudulent accounts may disseminate misleading information, solicit personal data, or engage in other malicious activities. The Osaka City government is taking this matter seriously to protect the public from potential scams and to ensure that accurate information regarding the upcoming Expo continues to be disseminated through verified sources.
While the specific platforms where these impersonation accounts have been detected are not explicitly detailed in the advisory, it is understood that such activities are common across various social media networks where official bodies maintain a presence. These impersonators often mimic the profile picture, bio, and even the posting style of legitimate accounts to appear credible.
To help the public identify and avoid these deceptive accounts, Osaka City strongly advises users to:
- Verify Official Accounts: Always check for the official verification badge or mark that social media platforms typically provide for legitimate organizational accounts.
- Scrutinize Account Details: Carefully review the username, profile picture, and the content of posts. Any inconsistencies or unusual activity should raise suspicion.
- Cross-Reference Information: If any information received from a social media account seems questionable or deviates from official announcements, cross-reference it with information available on the Osaka City government’s official website or other authenticated channels.
- Report Suspicious Activity: Users are encouraged to report any suspected impersonation accounts to the respective social media platform. This helps platforms take swift action to remove fraudulent content and protect users.
The Osaka Prefectural and Osaka City Expo Promotion Bureau is committed to transparent and reliable communication with the public. By raising awareness about this issue, the city aims to prevent any negative impact on the momentum building for the upcoming Expo and to maintain the integrity of its official communications.
The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and to always ensure they are engaging with authentic and verified sources of information, particularly when it pertains to major public events and government initiatives. Osaka City will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
大阪府・大阪市万博推進局機運醸成部公式SNSを模倣した「なりすましアカウント」にご注意ください
AI has delivered the news.
The answer to the following question is obtained from Google Gemini.
大阪市 published ‘大阪府・大阪市万博推進局機運醸成部公式SNSを模倣した「なりすましアカウント」にご注意ください’ at 2025-07-29 05:00. Please write a detailed article about this news in a polite tone with relevant information. Please reply in English with the article only.