They say 'right now' and ask for your money or personal info.
History's lessons for today's decisions ／ Steps to Take When Unsure
Three steps when solicited — Hang up, Verify, Talk.
What is the first thing to do when told to act "right now"?
The 3 Steps for Handling a Sales Pitch in 3 Minutes
1See it
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Step 1: Disconnect. Hang up the phone, close the window.
Don't pay, don't give them anything, and don't follow their instructions on the spot.
Step 2: Verify. Call an official number that you found yourself.
e.g., on the back of your bankbook or the official website
Step 3: Talk. Tell someone the same day.
Tell your family, the Consumer Hotline (188), or the police consultation service (#9110).
If you can do the first step, the rest will come naturally.
2In numbers
3Moves
Disconnect, Verify, Talk. This is the pattern, and the order matters.
3What would you do?
You get a call from someone claiming to be from your bank. They say, 'Please call us back at this number.' Which number should you call?
Pick one
The number they gave you
To verify, don't use the number they provided. Call an official number you found yourself, like the one on the back of your bankbook or on the official website.
The number on the back of your bankbook
That's right. You should use an official number you found yourself, not the one they provided. Afterward, be sure to tell your family, the Consumer Hotline (188), or the police (#9110) about the call that same day.
Deciding in advance who you'll talk to will make the second and third steps go faster.
4Read more
When to use When asked for money or personal information by phone, in person, or by message.
The order is part of the pattern. If you stop at the first step, the rest will follow naturally. Deciding in advance who to talk to will speed up the second and third steps.
Procedure
- Hang upHang up the phone. Close the screen. Do not pay, hand over, or operate anything on the spot.
- VerifyCall the official number you found yourself (back of your passbook, official website), not the one provided by the other party.
- TalkTo your family, the Consumer Hotline 188, or the police consultation service #9110, within the same day.
In other countries
In the U.S., the FTC lists "resist the pressure to act immediately" and blocking unwanted calls as the first lines of defense.
Bibliography
- How To Avoid a ScamFederal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Advice
- Consumer Affairs Centers, etc., NationwideNational Consumer Affairs Center of Japan
- List of methods and countermeasures you can take starting today (SOS47 Special Fraud Countermeasures Page).National Police Agency.
Related Lectures and Notes
P1 Fraud techniques — Four signs and the methods made public in Japan
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