The man is suspected of illegally obtaining digital gift information that Hokkaido Bank had presented to customers and converting it into electronic money under his control, totaling approximately 36,000 yen, while working as a bank employee at Hokkaido Bank in June 2024 as a seconded employee from a consumer finance company.

According to police and Hokkaido Bank, the man illicitly acquired URLs for digital gifts and manipulated them to obtain electronic money for himself.

The incident came to light after Hokkaido Bank received a report of unauthorized activity from the digital gift issuing company and consulted with the police.

The man admitted to the allegations during questioning, stating, “It’s true. I fraudulently transferred ‘DEGICO’ (digital gifts exchangeable for electronic money) that were about to expire into my own account.”

Police believe that over 500 digital gift items were illegally obtained, with damages amounting to approximately 500,000 yen, and are investigating further possible offenses by the man.

Hokkaido Bank commented, “We take this situation very seriously and will strive to further enhance and strengthen our internal management systems. We are committed to restoring trust and preventing recurrence with a bank-wide effort.”

Sapporo Chuo Police Station

The Sapporo Chuo Police Station is a modern police facility serving as the headquarters for the Chuo Ward of Sapporo, Japan. While the current building is a contemporary structure, it is part of the long-standing law enforcement history in the region that developed alongside Sapporo’s growth as Hokkaido’s preeminent city.

Teine Ward

Teine Ward is a residential district in western Sapporo, Japan, known for its natural scenery and proximity to the Teine Ski Resort. The area’s history is tied to the development of Hokkaido in the late 19th century and it gained international recognition after hosting the alpine events of the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics.

Sapporo

Sapporo is the modern capital of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, which was officially founded in 1868 during the Meiji period as a planned city. It is now internationally famous for hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics, its annual Snow Festival featuring massive ice sculptures, and as the birthplace of Sapporo Beer, with its brewery established in 1876.

Hokkaido Bank

Hokkaido Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1941 to support economic development on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. It was founded through the merger of several smaller local banks and has since played a significant role in financing the region’s key industries, including agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

DEGICO

I am unable to provide a summary for “DEGICO” as it does not appear to correspond to a recognized place, cultural site, or historical landmark. It is possible the name is misspelled or refers to a very local or obscure subject.