From next month, the adult age will be lowered to 18 years old, and various contracts will be able to be concluded without the consent of parents, but this year, consultations on MLM, etc. More than half of them are from teens and 20s, and experts warn that "while the number of part-time jobs is decreasing due to the corona disaster, the risk of" new adults "being involved in consumption troubles is increasing."
According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, the number of consultations regarding "multi-commercial methods without goods", which is not a specific product but a profit story, has risen to nearly 4,000 by last month, of which more than half, 2,200. The rest was from teens and 20s.
In addition, we have received about 4,000 consultations regarding products that solicit investment, such as "the principal will increase several times", but more than 600 have been received from teens and 20s.
In both cases, the number of consultations from young people has increased compared to five years ago, and there are many cases where friends and people I met on SNS recommend me to sign a contract.
With the reduction of the adult age approaching next month, it will be possible to conclude contracts such as credit cards from the age of 18 without the consent of parents, while the person or guardian can cancel the contract later. "Right" can no longer be used.
Experts warn against making contracts easily, saying, "The number of part-time jobs has decreased due to the corona sickness, and the risk of" new adults "who are attracted to the story of making money getting involved in consumption troubles is increasing."
A man who signed a high-priced contract at the age of 19
A university student who signed a high-priced contract at the age of 19 and then canceled the contract using the "minor cancellation right" responded to NHK's interview.
The man, who was 19 years old, was recommended to join an entrepreneurship school by another college student he met on Twitter.
I heard that it was economically difficult to get a part-time job at an izakaya due to the state of emergency due to the spread of the new corona infection, and that I could learn specific business methods, so the man took an invitation and paid about 400,000 yen. I signed a contract to pay a monthly installment of about 20,000 yen a month.
However, when the lecture started, the content was very different from the explanation before the contract.
The man recorded the contents of the lecture in a notebook, but there were many explanations such as "If you believe in the school's presidency, your dreams will come true" and "Eliminate doubts", and 10 books that the presidency can respect It means that most of them were spiritual theories, such as sneaking.
He was also asked to recruit new members to the school and was told that if successful, he would get a margin of tens of percent per person.
The man says, "I was talking about selling content myself and learning how to turn it into a business, but I gradually became wondering why I was introduced to the school."
A man who became suspicious of the so-called MLM method canceled the contract using the "minor cancellation right" and recovered the full amount paid.
The man said, "Initially, the contractor insisted that the contract could not be canceled, but when he told him to consult the consumer center, he changed his attitude and responded to the refund. It is a meaningless" information product. " It was mentally painful to keep paying more than 20,000 yen every month. If I didn't get a refund, I would have only regrets and couldn't take on new challenges. "
"Young people are easier to deceive than adults"
How do people who have been involved in fraud cases see the reduction in adult age?
A former gangster who was once caught in a fraud case and was involved in scams, according to NHK's interview, said, "In a word, young people are easier to deceive than adults. That's not the case, it's like this. "
On top of that, "Human beings have a gap in their hearts when their desires swell. On the other hand, young people who have no money and no knowledge are more likely to have their desires saturated, so criminals poke there. At the age of 20, the experience in society and the financial environment are completely different. I think that various criminals will pay attention to that generation. "
School site that is busy with correspondence
Schools are also busy responding as the adult age is lowered and more contracts can be signed without parental consent.
With the revision of the course of study, next year, in high school home economics, classes will begin to teach the characteristics of basic financial products such as stock investment and investment trusts.
At the Oshukan Secondary School in Tokyo, before the full-scale "financial education" is in full swing, we teach the necessity of asset formation in home economics classes.
In last month's class, a report from the Financial Services Agency's council stated that wages are sluggish in Japan and that "about 20 million yen will be required in old age" in front of high school students who will turn 18 from next month. It was introduced that it attracted attention, and each student made a life planning sheet and was thinking about a plan for asset formation.
One of the students said, "I wasn't interested in investing, but when I heard that there was a problem of 20 million yen in old age, I thought it was necessary to think about asset management. However, I have a lot of knowledge about finance. There isn't one, so I have an image of a future story a little further. "
Another student said, "I want to invest for the future, but I'm surprised to hear that there is a risk of increasing scam solicitations when I become a college student. My friends often say,'It's easy to be fooled.' You have to be more careful than anyone else because you are told. "
Efforts for "financial education" at school sites.
However, some teachers are concerned about the lack of knowledge on the part of the teacher and the limited class hours.
At this school, we are trying to utilize not only home economics but also classes such as public citizens, but it is expected that the time allocated will be limited to about 2 hours a year, and it is not easy to deal with malicious business methods that change one after another. ..
Naoko Hara, chief teacher of home economics, said, "It is impossible to tell everything about investment in class. When it comes to malicious business methods, it is said that there is such a technique aimed at 18-year-old adults," and teaching materials such as consumer centers. However, it is difficult to keep up with the latest information because financial products and methods change day by day. When I became a university student and received an investment solicitation, I remembered "I heard it in class at that time." I would like to proceed with the lessons that I can receive. "
High risk of involving young people isolated by corona
Akiko Takahashi, a visiting professor at Seikei University who is familiar with young people's behavior and information literacy, believes that there is a high risk that young people will get into trouble as not only lack of knowledge, but also the number of part-time jobs is decreasing due to the corona disaster and isolation is progressing.
Visiting Professor Takahashi said, "Even a 20-year-old student is caught up in scams and investment fraud, and is suddenly treated as an adult without any financial, social experience, or knowledge. I think there is a high risk that new adults will suffer financial damage. "
On top of that, "University students are in a lonely environment where they cannot come to school due to corona risk and there is almost no club activity. There are many cases where interest is invited by SNS, but young people think that connection through SNS is very important. It is easy to become a target. Products that claim to "promise an interest rate of several percent or more" are often risky and fraudulent, so we have to teach from such basics. It is necessary to create an environment where adults can consult with young people. "
If you get into trouble
If you get into a consumer trouble or have a problem with a contract, you can call "188" on the "Consumer Hotline" to get a guide to the nearest consumer service center.
Inquiries about the law are also accepted at "Japan Legal Support Center = Houterasu".
This number is 0570-078374.