Beware of International Trade Scams in Japan

2022/03/31 Attorney Motoki TaniguchiCOLUMN

Recently, I handled quite a lot of fraud cases in which persons in Africa or Middle and South America ordered goods from companies in Japan, made the payment, but did not receive goods. Most of the cases involve automobile part, automobiles, motor bikes and others.
However, in most cases after the legal consultation, it turns out that victims were defrauded by fake Japanese companies that do not actually exist in Japan.

Moreover, the companies use virtual websites, as well as bank account outside of Japan or Japanese bank account but with unmatching account holder names. Therefore, unfortunately in many cases, it is unable to locate and trace the payment remitted by victims, and unable to recover the loss in the end.

Japan is held as a country with high quality goods and good manners, but it seems that in fact such image has been taken advantage of by individuals who probably have nothing to do with Japan.

Measures to Take Before Making Payment:

In many cases, by checking the website of the received from the representatives of the Japan, it is not hard to find out whether it is a scam or not. Please make the order, please check the following:

1. There is an English website but not a Japanese website
–> it is almost impossible for Japanese companies to do so

2. For the phone number, there is only mobile phone number
–> most Japanese company with a certain size will not do this.

3. The address of the company does not exit or the office is located in a hardly populated area
–> it is better to check the address using google map, street view

4. The transferee bank information is not an entity bank account with a Japanese bank
–> when this happens, the likelihood of fraud will increase.
Before you make any money transfer with a large amount, please make as much attentions and cares as possible.

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CONTACT

弁護士　谷口太規
Taniguchi Motoki, Attorney at Law