A blackmailer has demanded $2.4 million from the Bank of Yokohama, Japan's largest regional bank, or is threatening to reveal a confidential document on the accounts of 360 of the institution's customers, police said Monday.
The demand was made in a letter received by the bank's headquarters in Yokohama January 4, officials said. Enclosed was a copy of a confidential list of customers' names, addresses, details of their balances, loans and due dates on time deposits.The letter, written on a word processor, demanded the bank pay the money in cash. If the bank does not, the blackmailer indicated copies would be sent to the mass media, gangsters and "sokaiya," or professional shareholders who pressure companies by threatening to disrupt meetings, police in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, said.
Bank officials confirmed the list was genuine and said it dated from mid-1991.
Following the blackmailer's request, the bank placed an advertisement in a major newspaper for three days starting Jan. 19 informing the blackmailer it agreed to the demand to protect the privacy of its customers.
The bank received dozens of calls to a special telephone number, but no contact was made with the blackmailer, police said.
Setsuo Kumada, the bank's vice president, apologized for the incident at a news conference.
At the bank offices, customers' lists are kept in computers and bank clerks are required to shred lists after using them.
Police suspect the blackmailer obtained a non-shredded copy. Kumada indicated the bank will take apropriate steps if it finds the document was leaked by its staff.