As Japan's rice prices soar, scammers cash in on hunger for cheap deals
The National Consumer Affairs Centre of Japan said complaints related to such websites have spiked since March, with some claiming the rice was never delivered though payment had been made.
Some cases reported last month include a man in his twenties who bought 20kg (44lbs) of rice on a website with a credit card but did not receive an email confirming completion of the order.
He called a phone number on the website only to find it not in service, the centre said.
Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visits a warehouse stockpiling the government's reserve rice in Kanagawa prefecture on Thursday. Photo: Kyodo
A woman in her fifties said she ordered 5kg (11lbs) of rice at 3,899 yen (US$27) via an advertisement on a video-sharing app but only received an email with a receipt for a pair of sunglasses priced at the same amount.
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