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To thwart thieves, think and act like an 'Osaka auntie'

17 Comments

Despite the authorities' best efforts to put people on their guard against the odious "It's me, send money" and other forms of fraud, the number of reported incidents last year rose by 13% over 2014, to total 12,762 cases. Aggregate losses were calculated at 39 billion yen.

Broken down by type, according to police statistics, the known incidents went up by 5% year-on-year for "it's me, send money" schemes; 30% for spurious invoice demands; and 23% for bait-and-switch scams involving tax rebates.

Considering the extensive reporting in the media of such incidents, marvels Nikkan Gendai (April 23), it's something of a wonder that the number of cases keeps growing. This is in part a testimony to wily crooks' ability to keep coming up with original types of confidence schemes. Once, all it took was a hushed voice over the telephone, pretending to be a son or grandson, and urgently asking for money to keep the police or court at bay. These are still common; but now those considerate, cooperative criminals are even willing to come to their mostly elderly victims' homes to receive the cash -- or an ATM card giving them access to the victims' accounts.

One of the fastest-growing types of schemes is the tricking of people into using parcel delivery services to send payment for billed items that they never ordered.

As a proactive measure to protect oneself from becoming victimized by one of these nefarious schemes, Nikkan Gendai says nothing beats emulating the conversational style of an "Osaka auntie."

Why Osaka? If one looks at the prefectures where reported cases of fraud are most common, the top three are Tokyo, Saitama and Okayama. Osaka, at 43rd, ranks close to the bottom. And one likely reason for this is the way Osaka people typically engage others, including over the telephone.

For details, the tabloid turned to a book titled "The Osaka Obasan Strikes Back," authored by Sachiko Minamoto, who says she was born "smack dab in the middle of Osaka."

"If the caller begins by saying 'Ore dakedo' (it's me), such women tend to be immediately put on their guard, demanding confirmation by asking, 'What do you mean by ME? None of my kids are an 'ore.'"

If the caller speaks using standard Japanese instead of Osaka dialect, moreover, it'll almost certainly raise suspicions. "Homma ni Takeshi?" (Takeshi, is it really you?) she'll ask in the local vernacular, insisting on some sort of proof before continuing the conversation.

"In the old days, discussion of money wasn't treated as a taboo among Osakans," author Minamoto notes. "For instance, if you saw a person clad in a nice garment, there was nothing wrong with asking 'Nanbo shitan?' (how much did you pay for it?). Or if a person changed residence, you could ask him, 'Yachin nanbo?' (how much rent are you paying?). Osakans have got the kind of culture where they can negotiate with a realtor and even ask for a discount on the rent for an apartment. So the subject of money tends to come up right off the bat, and they don't automatically agree with someone else's terms."

Minamoto also points out such ladies' contrary nature. Ask for the money to be sent via bank transfer and she'll counter, "That's too troublesome. Why don't you come and get it yourself?" In other words, while she may be perfectly willing to have others make additional efforts, she's twice as circumspect when it comes to laying out her own money.

"That's an attitude everyone ought to emulate," Minamoto says.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

17 Comments
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Osaka once the hub of Japanese manufacturing would darken the skies with its smoke belching pollution, but no more-all those factories are closed with China taking up the slack! The point is the wealth once prevalent in Osaka has gone! So, when these chancres make their fraudulent calls there isn't anything to be had.......

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

'Chotto kangaeru' ('I need to think about it' or something like that) means different things in different parts of Japan. Say it in Osaka and business people start to look at the next ones in line as a more likely source of custom. My experience in Kanto is the opposite - I just recall having to say flat out 'No' there and even that didn't work.

Negotiating is easier in Osaka, or less frustratingly complicated anyway.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The best thing to do is to pretend to go along with it and contact the cops. There are a few stories of this, but I wish they would scam the scammers and get them busted.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Put these unemployed scammers to work for you and have crushing demands. Good slave material and when they do not perform -turn them into the police. I am shure the Yakuza are recruiting from this bunch almost daily and many sent to do work in Fukushima.

=Forced unionization of all criminals. You want to be a criminal in Japan? You must pay the union dues.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

But are these criminals really so bad? I've heard they also do relief work after disasters.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

But are these criminals really so bad? I've heard they also do relief work after disasters.

So because they went to help family members caught in the disaster, we should ignore their criminal activity? More than likely, the relief work is another scam opportunity.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I can imagine an Osakan obasan who is tricked into thinking she is helping her son/daughter saying 'makete kure'!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Osaka, at 43rd, ranks close to the bottom. And one likely reason for this is the way Osaka people typically engage others,

I lived in kansai for nearly a decade. Compared to Kyoto and Kobe, your typical Osaka-jin is a hard sell. For a lot of reasons: hard times, mercantile tradition, and just plain gutsy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

''Think and act like an Osaka auntie''. What blather. Does that mean pretend like you're an ugly obnoxious hag? Really, the stereotypes people espouse. Like the one about blood types. May as well have said ''think and act like a western gaijin'' 'cause you know, they're all aggressive. And I live in Osaka.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

What blather. Does that mean pretend like you're an ugly obnoxious hag? Really, the stereotypes people espouse.

LOL! I see what you did there.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Fadamor- I did nothing. I merely find it amusing how people categorize supposed stereotypes. I personally find said ''Osaka aunties'' to be amongst the most adorable and naive people on the planet. Now, their younger counterparts...mmm...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The mere mention of 'Osaka Obasan' makes me chuckle as I've heard from Tokyo and even Tohoku ladies about how these Osakan ladies are by nature. The feeling is not all negative as I've always like the Japanese ladies being forthright and to the point instead of being overly polite, no beating about the bush. I have but one question for anyone here, 'Is it true far too many of them like to wear tiger print clothing? That will be hilarious! Roar!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hah! @m6bob. Yeah, that's right. They all wear the mandatory Hansin Tigers uniform. Hey buddy, I don't know where you're from, but cut out on the stereotypical bull. Just like all Americans are loudmouthed, overweight losers, or how all Brits are condecending, uptight kill-joys. I'm sure that if you were to visit the Kansai region, you'd be inundated w/ tiger print that you'd be overwhelmed. How about the ''mere chuckle'' of wherever you crawled out from would make me gasp?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I've dealt with a few of these creeps. I start speaking to them in English. Click.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I have but one question for anyone here, 'Is it true far too many of them like to wear tiger print clothing?

Leopard print, leopard print everything from eyeglasses to purses and shoes (except when they're wearing a Tigers' uniform of course) .

Here's a link to some shots of a shopping street- http://tinyurl.com/j5vmpsr

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Compared to Kyoto and Kobe, your typical Osaka-jin is a hard sell. For a lot of reasons: hard times, mercantile tradition, and just plain gutsy.

My student, on his travels in SE Asia, shared a cab-ride with a couple of Osaka obachan. The driver tried to rip him off. The ladies complained so loudly and vigorously that the driver immediately backed down, and discounted the price. A Tokyo-ite would've just meekly paid up.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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