TOKYO (TR) – The National Consumer Affairs Center is sounding the alarm over a massive surge in malicious e-commerce websites duping customers out of their cash using hijacked images and QR code payment schemes, reports Kyodo News (June 30).
According to the center, scammers are stealing photos and item descriptions from legitimate flea market platforms to create convincing, fake storefronts.
Once a victim attempts to make a purchase, the fraudulent operators demand payment via a QR code. Instead of processing a standard retail transaction, the code secretly funnels the victim’s money directly into the scammer’s personal account.
The promised goods never arrive. When defrauded buyers attempt to demand a refund, they find the operators have vanished and cut off all contact, making the recovery of funds virtually impossible.
Authorities report a sharp spike in victims falling prey to the racket. Consultations regarding these malicious sites skyrocketed from 292 cases in fiscal 2024 to 782 the following year. Officials attribute the surge to the rapid, widespread adoption of QR code payment systems across Japan.
To prevent further victims, the center has outlined four major red flags for consumers to watch out for when shopping online:
Unnatural or incorrect Japanese phrasing on the website.
The sudden availability of highly sought-after or rare items.
Suspiciously low prices compared to market value.
Highly restricted payment options, often limited to a single method.
