Hey, it’s me!

Japan is generally considered a very safe country, so it’s hard to imagine getting scammed there. However, recently in Japan, one scam in particular has been getting more and more frequent. It’s called the “Hey, it’s me,” scam or in Japanese オレオレサギ (ore ore sagi). This might be one you’ve heard of in your country as well. Someone calls, opening up with the titular “Hi, it’s me.” After the person on the other end of the line makes a guess as to the identity of the caller, the scam artist proceeds to insist they’re in an accident or some other tight situation, and need cash immediately.

Though the number of recorded losses has gone down, cases jumped to record highs in 2018, and show a trend of continuing to climb. The number of reported cases has gone up by 7.5 percent in the past couple years. Most of these cases happen in big cities, and half of recent cases were in Tokyo, Saitama, and Kanagawa.

It seems easy enough to see through, but you’d be surprised how many people actually fall for it. Of course, like any scam, the technique has only grown more sophisticated over the years, with the conmen playing lawyers, or even policemen, crafting elaborate tales to make you think you’re in some kind of financial trouble.

This isn’t the only scam that happens frequently in Japan, and there are many that target foreigners specifically. If you’re visiting or living in Japan, make sure you stay aware of the different dangers that do exist, infrequent as they may be.





Common Japanese Scams Targeting Foreigners





Hey, it’s Me!

Foreigners aren’t immune to these scam. If an unfamiliar number calls you, answer in your native language or pretend not to know Japanese. Chances are they’ll give up and leave you alone.

Or if you're feeling bold and want to help stop their nefarious behaviour, play along on the initial call and document any vital information and after you hang up contact the police and give them all the information you gathered. The more evidence the police gather the more chance the scammers can be stopped.