Someone contacts you about money by phone, in person, on social media, or in an ad.
The names of the scams change every year. The pattern doesn't.
History's lessons for today's decisions ／ Fraud Techniques
Fraud techniques — Four signs and the methods made public in Japan
Can you recognize a new method by its pattern?
The 4 Signs of a Scam in 3 Minutes
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Sign #1: They pretend to be from an organization or family you know.
Names and caller IDs can be faked.
Sign #2: They say there's a 'problem' or a 'prize'.
Account misuse, settlement money, unpaid bills / You've won, a refund, high returns.
Sign #3: They rush you to act 'right now'.
By today, only now, don't hang up, don't tell anyone.
Sign #4: They tell you exactly how to pay.
Cryptocurrency, money transfer services, gift cards, using an ATM, handing over your card.
Before you think about their story, count the signs.
If you see two or more, it fits the pattern.
It's time for the three steps: Hang up, check, and talk.
2In numbers
4signs
Signs of a scam. Even if the name of the scam changes, this pattern stays the same.
2signs
If you see this many, it's time for the three steps: Hang up, check, and talk.
3What would you do?
You get a phone call: 'You have a refund. Please go to an ATM to process it.' What do you do?
Pick one
Go to the ATM and do what they say.
The 'refund' is a prize, and 'using an ATM' is a specific payment method. That's two signs right there. It's the pattern for a refund scam. Now it's time for the three steps, starting with hanging up the phone.
Hang up the phone for now.
That's right. If you count the signs, you have a prize (the refund) and a specific payment method (using an ATM). That's two. Before you even think about their story, it's time for the three steps: Hang up, check, and talk.
The names of the scams change every year. The pattern doesn't. All you need to do is count the signs.
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When to use When you are approached about money by phone, in person, on social media, or through ads.
The names of the methods change every year. The patterns do not. The U.S. consumer agency, the FTC, summarizes the signs of a scam into four points: They pretend to be a known organization. They say there is a problem or a prize. They pressure you to act immediately. They specify a particular payment method. If two or more of these overlap, it fits the pattern.
Placing the methods publicized in Japan into the patterns.
Applying the four signs to the methods listed by the National Police Agency results in the following: Fake police scam = pretending to be an organization + a problem. "Ore ore" scam = pretending to be an organization or family + a problem (settlement money) + pressure. Savings deposit scam / Cash card fraud theft = pretending to be an organization + a problem (account misuse) + payment method (handing over a card). Fictitious billing fraud = a problem (unpaid bill) + pressure + payment method. Refund scam = a prize (refund) + payment method (ATM operation). Social media investment scam = a prize (yield) + intimacy + payment method. Social media romance scam = intimacy + a problem or prize + payment method.
There is one way to use this note. Before examining the content of the conversation, count the signs. The moment two of them overlap, proceed to these three steps: hang up, verify, and discuss.
Procedure
- Pretending to be an organizationGovernment office, police, bank, famous company, family. Names and caller IDs can be faked.
- A problem or a prizeAccount misuse, settlement money, unpaid bill / Winning a prize, a refund, high returns.
- Time pressureBy the end of today, only now, don't hang up, don't tell anyone.
- A specific payment methodCrypto assets, money transfer services, gift cards, ATM operations, handing over a card.
In other countries
In the U.S., the FTC publicizes the same four signs. The pattern is the same across countries; only the names of the methods differ.
Bibliography
- How To Avoid a ScamFederal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Advice
- List of methods and countermeasures you can take starting today (SOS47 Special Fraud Countermeasures Page).National Police Agency.
Related Lectures and Notes
P1 Three steps when solicited — Hang up, Verify, Talk.
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