Hello! I'm Shemihaza, the Sentinel. During long holidays like Golden Week and summer vacation, we often see a rise in issues like children incurring high charges in online games and cryptocurrency-related scam damages. It would be terrible if you suddenly received a bill for hundreds of thousands of yen, thinking it was free, wouldn't it? This time, I'll thoroughly explain the methods used by scammers and the countermeasures to protect your precious family from these dangerous traps.
The Cunning Methods of High-Charge Online Game and Cryptocurrency Scams
- ▸① The Pitfall of In-Game Purchase Items: 'Just One More Click!' Games that are supposedly free to play exploit the desire to become stronger or obtain rare items, leading to unknowingly purchasing numerous 'paid items'. Children often don't realize they're spending real money, and there's a constant stream of cases where they unauthorizedly use credit card information registered on their parents' smartphones or game consoles.
- ▸② Parent Accounts Targeted! Careless Password Management: If credit card information remains registered on a parent's game account or smartphone payment settings (payment information), or if the password is simple, children can easily make purchases. This creates an opportunity for high bills to be incurred when parents least expect it.
- ▸③ The Danger of Bypassing Age Restrictions by 'Falsifying Age to Adult': Online games and some cryptocurrency services have age restrictions. However, if a child registers by falsely claiming to be an 'adult,' purchase limits and other settings may not function, potentially leading to unexpectedly high charges. Furthermore, while most cryptocurrency exchanges do not allow minors to open accounts, registering under false age information can make it difficult to receive assistance in case of fraud, and can also lead to legal issues.
- ▸④ Sweet Temptations on Social Media: 'Easy Money!' Scammers are increasingly using social media to promote cryptocurrency investments with sweet talk like 'you're guaranteed to earn money' or 'get rich quick,' or to redirect users to suspicious apps and websites. Minors, in particular, lack investment knowledge and are therefore at high risk of being easily deceived.
Checkpoints to Protect Your Precious Family
- ✓Check that you have not told your child your smartphone's payment password.
- ✓Confirm that payment settings for online games and apps (parental controls and usage restrictions) are enabled.
- ✓If you see tempting phrases like 'guaranteed to make money' or 'easy money' on social media or in games, be suspicious immediately.
- ✓Regularly monitor your child's online game usage and internet interactions for any suspicious activity.
- ✓Discuss online games and cryptocurrencies as a family and clearly establish rules for their use.
Where to Get Help When You're in Trouble
If your child has made high purchases or become involved in suspicious cryptocurrency schemes, please consult someone immediately instead of worrying alone. Contracts made by minors without parental consent may be cancellable (this is called the 'right of a minor to cancel'). First, try contacting the game platform provider or game company from the account where the purchase was made. If it's difficult to resolve, consult your local consumer affairs center. You can call the 'Consumer Hotline' (dial 188 without an area code) from anywhere in the country to be connected to your nearest counseling service. Additionally, if you need to consult the police, use the 'Police Consultation Hotline (#9110)'.