February 14th is Saint Valentine's Day. It is around the corner. Normally, men presents chocolate with a card to women on Valentin's Day. But women prepares present for their partner too. So, both men and women exchange presents on that day.
However, in Japan, we have a different custom. It has been common for only women to present Valentin's chocolate to men they like.
In 1936, Morozoff Ltd. introduced the holiday for the first time. It began promoting the giving of heart-shaped chocolates. Other japanese confectionery companies followed it. Therefore, at this time of year, department stores and confectionery shops are filled with various kinds of chocolate and crowded with women.
It is seen that two types of chocolates are more popular for Valentine's Day. One types of chocolate called giri-choco. "Giri-choco" means obligation chocolate for friends, bosses, coworkers and close male friends. and the other type of chocolate called honmei-choco. "Honmei-choco" means special chocolate for boyfriend, lovers or husbands.
But recently, Valentine's Day has actually started to change in Japan. Nowadays, many women have also started to buy chocolate for female friends and themselves. So, japanese women spend a lot of money for chocolate.
In Japan, there is scam that everybody calls "Frikome Sagi." Frikome Sagi are the words that describe the crime of impersonating someone on the phone. It's "Bank Transfer Scams."
One day, someone calls you like this. "Hello, mom. It's me it's me." he says. "Hello, Jim?" you say. Then "Yes, I'm Jim. the fact that I have an accident and I need to prepare the money immediately. please pay my account as requested." he says. Someone impersonates your son and steal the money. At first this type of scam was called "It's me It's me scam." but criminals use many different tricks. Therefore, name changed now.
The other case, someone impersonates a police, a lowyer, et cetera. What would you do if you had a phone call like this? Actually, it is difficult to hear the voice on the phone. and make an error in judgment.
The criminals targets are mainly those elderly that stay at home.
Recently, "Frikome Sagi" is one of the most common type of fraud in Japan. The scam never seem to end.
