Ore Ore Fraud. Why ore ore?

Ore.
When we say "Ore" in Japanese, it is not a metal-bearing mineral. It is a informal word for a guy referring to himself. When guys, especially young guys, call their parents, they say "okasan? Ore." (mom? it's me). It is true, they do not say their name. And mom and grandma think only their son (grand son) would say "mom, it is me" to her.

Then this has become big trouble, and a crime in Japan. It is called "ore ore fraud". Here is an article of the hiragana times, and one more. This fraud became a serious issue, although police and media warned the people. 2.3 billion Japanese yen (US$22 million) were squeezed out of four thousand victims in 2003. And it is getting worse in this year. Does this sound strange to foreign people? When you call to your mom or dad, what do you say first? Can this sort of crime happen only in Japan?

I say, "It's me, mom! How are you?" when I call her. I do not say "Hi mom, this is Mari". I feel a little awkward saying that. Of course, I do not hear of "Watashi watashi fraud" (woman's version), maybe because woman talk about more than business, then it's easy to know if it is your daughter or not.

Why does it feel awkward?
I think not only on the phone, Japanese, especially guys, hardly "say" first names in this society. On business, we are called by last names (not only guys, woman too). In Private, some call each other by their first name, but last names are no problem, I can say last name is the normal way with guys. We say our full name to make reservations or something. However in Japanese society, saying first names only by itself is a really rare case. We don't have such a custom. This crime is due to such a background, I think. What do you think?

Comments

[Myself]

Perhaps its the less unique inflection found in the japanese language. It is possible for many people to sound the same if the way society asks you to speak is more of a higher pitch tone (more womanly respectfully). Then again voices are pretty unique and it would be hard to confuse a brother or sister, son or daughter with an unknown person.

[41nano]

I think it's pretty strange too, I know the voice of all my relatives.
Anyway, in my country it's rather the contrary, we hardly say the last name only if it's an important matter to discuss. And at work when people start to know each other, they call themselves by their first name, even the boss most of the time.

[Nekomi]

Yes, very interesting! I would think my parents would know my own voice. When I call my relatives, I usually say "Hi, it's Amanda!" But when I'm talking to my mom, I only say "It's me," so I guess it could happen here.

[Tom]

Interesting - I can see this happening in the U.S., but maybe not so much that it could become a phenom. I have 2 brothers, so I occasionally have to identify myself to my mom when I call since my voice is similar to my brothers.

But if someone called my mom with such a tale, she'd be doubtful, as she knows me and would certainly try to be 100% certain it was me before doing anything. We in the u.s. are generally made suspicious now because we hear about so many unique scams.

The first name, last name thing is interesting too. In the u.s., people usually refer to a friend by their first name only, once in a while co-workers or acquaintenances may refer to another by their last name, but it's unusual.

[TronDD]

This could happen in America. People usually refer to themselves as "me" when calling their parents. And parents wouldn't expect anyone but their children to call them "mom" or "dad".

[teejay]

pretty strange ! how would you not know someone's voice on the phone, especially if it is a relative. i mean if someone calls me and says she is my sister, of course i would know if it is her or not, even if she doesn't say her name. hmmmm, weird stuff!