While Japan may be a safe country, scams do happen.
For foreigners who just moved to Japan, it can be hard to identify a scam due to language barriers.
This is especially so for door-to-door sales, where one has to make quick judgments.
Let me introduce some ways you can check for scams and how you can prevent them.
1. Ask for the name of the company, what they do and their purpose for visiting you
You can use the following phrases over the intercom:
「会社は何という名前ですか？」、「何の仕事をしていますか？」、「どのようなご用件でしょうか？」
Obtaining more information helps you to make better decisions.
If you are unable to catch what the other party is saying, you can get him/her to repeat by saying 「申し訳ありません、もう一度ゆっくりおしゃっていただけませんか？」
If you cannot understand what the company does due to usage of complicated words, you can request for a simplified explanation with 「申し訳ありません、簡単な言葉でもう一度おしゃっていただけませんか？」
If you are really unable to comprehend anything, just reply with 「申し訳ありません、わかりません。」and put down the phone immediately. While this may be rude, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
If the salesman wants to sell something that you don't need, reject him firmly on the spot.
2. Never give away your personal information and bank or credit card details!
Do not provide these information even if the other party claims to be from your bank or insurance company! (Banks and insurance companies don`t do house visits so these are likely scams)
Contact your insurance company/bank/credit card company to confirm before you act.
3. If the other party becomes insistent, threaten them by offering to call the police.
※For mail and parcel deliveries, the deliveryman will announce the name of the delivery company firsthand e.g. Yamato, Sagawa, Japan Post, so you will know immediately who it is. For online shopping, you will usually receive a delivery notification email in advance.
＊These are not scams, but broadcasting companies like NHK and telecommunications companies like Softbank may come knocking. These companies will usually request to speak with you in person regarding personal information. If you do not use their services, you can turn them away by saying that you do not own a TV 「すみません、テレビを持っていません。」, or you do not use internet 「すみません、インターネットを使いません。」
＊＊With the exception of deliveries, try not to let the other party come up to your doorstep, especially if you are living alone.
For foreigners who just moved to Japan, it can be hard to identify a scam due to language barriers.
This is especially so for door-to-door sales, where one has to make quick judgments.
Let me introduce some ways you can check for scams and how you can prevent them.
1. Ask for the name of the company, what they do and their purpose for visiting you
You can use the following phrases over the intercom:
「会社は何という名前ですか？」、「何の仕事をしていますか？」、「どのようなご用件でしょうか？」
Obtaining more information helps you to make better decisions.
If you are unable to catch what the other party is saying, you can get him/her to repeat by saying 「申し訳ありません、もう一度ゆっくりおしゃっていただけませんか？」
If you cannot understand what the company does due to usage of complicated words, you can request for a simplified explanation with 「申し訳ありません、簡単な言葉でもう一度おしゃっていただけませんか？」
If you are really unable to comprehend anything, just reply with 「申し訳ありません、わかりません。」and put down the phone immediately. While this may be rude, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
If the salesman wants to sell something that you don't need, reject him firmly on the spot.
2. Never give away your personal information and bank or credit card details!
Do not provide these information even if the other party claims to be from your bank or insurance company! (Banks and insurance companies don`t do house visits so these are likely scams)
Contact your insurance company/bank/credit card company to confirm before you act.
3. If the other party becomes insistent, threaten them by offering to call the police.
※For mail and parcel deliveries, the deliveryman will announce the name of the delivery company firsthand e.g. Yamato, Sagawa, Japan Post, so you will know immediately who it is. For online shopping, you will usually receive a delivery notification email in advance.
＊These are not scams, but broadcasting companies like NHK and telecommunications companies like Softbank may come knocking. These companies will usually request to speak with you in person regarding personal information. If you do not use their services, you can turn them away by saying that you do not own a TV 「すみません、テレビを持っていません。」, or you do not use internet 「すみません、インターネットを使いません。」
＊＊With the exception of deliveries, try not to let the other party come up to your doorstep, especially if you are living alone.
