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New 'Contract Scams' Target Newcomers in Japan: Fake Sewing Machine Ads, Delivery Scams, and More
Rise in Electricity and Gas Contract Troubles
According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, consultations regarding malicious solicitations related to electricity and gas infrastructure contracts have surged, particularly targeting those starting a new life in Japan. Many cases involve false information, such as claims that an entire apartment or condominium's electricity plan will change, or that electricity bills will be reduced, to induce contract agreements. One 20-year-old man signed an application form based solely on the business operator's word but later discovered from his apartment management company that no electricity plan change was in effect, leading him to cancel the contract. The National Consumer Affairs Center advises confirming facts with management companies before signing any contracts.
Utilize 'Cooling-Off' Period and Beware of Online Scams
Another 20-year-old man, coerced by a door-to-door salesperson impersonating an electric utility agent for over an hour, signed contracts for a switch to a different electric company, water server rental, and pest control services. Although he realized these were unnecessary, he had already signed. In such cases, a cooling-off period of 8 days from the date of receiving the contract is generally available for cancellation. Furthermore, online shopping scams, such as fake sewing machine advertisements, are also on the rise. Scammers exploit the increased demand for sewing machines during periods like preparing baby items, offering products at over 60% off their actual price with repeated, deceptive phrases like 'special sale for the next 3 days.' The manufacturer, Janome Sewing Machine, has stated that these websites are unaffiliated with their company.
New Fraudulent Schemes Exploiting Complex Payment Structures
The Metropolitan Police Department has also warned of a new type of online shopping fraud using intricate payment structures. In this scheme, a Chinese shop uses another person's credit card information (C-san) to purchase goods (e.g., canned chuhai) from a Japanese shopping mall for victim A-san (30s), who ordered the items at a significantly reduced price. The Chinese shop then directly ships the purchased items to A-san. A-san receives the ordered goods and is unaware of being a victim of fraud. Meanwhile, B-san, whose Rakuten account was hijacked, and C-san, whose credit card information was stolen, are the actual victims. The complex transaction chain makes it difficult to identify the perpetrator and causes confusion for investigative agencies. IT journalist Yozan Mikami states that this sophisticated setup helps scammers evade identification and obtain cash. He advises diligently checking credit card statements and online shopping histories, even when not actively shopping, and reporting any suspicious activity to the police.
*Source: YouTube: 日テレNEWS (2026-03-23)*
