Crime syndicates in Japan have operated in the open for more than 100 years as a result of an unwritten agreement they have had with members of the public and the police.
Many gangs explicitly ban members from being involved in crimes such as petty theft, armed robbery, sexual assault and drug trafficking in an attempt to follow a code of ethics based on chivalry. On the other hand, crimes such as blackmail and extortion are considered fair game.
Fraud, however, has until now existed in a sort of gray zone, and some syndicates have actively pursued such activity when they need some extra cash.