There is a rapid increase in cases of "payment made but goods not received" in SNS transactions!

There is a rapid increase in cases of "payment made but goods not received" in SNS transactions!

2025年07月21日 22:35

1. Current State of Damage: Numbers Reveal the Severity of "Non-Delivery Fraud"

  • Number of Consultations on the Rise
    According to the Internet Trouble Statistics of the National Consumer Affairs Center, there were 23,000 consultations regarding "non-delivery of goods" in the 2024 fiscal year. In 2025, the number reached 1.6 times the previous year's level just from April to June, as reported in a flash reportNational Consumer Center.

  • Targeted Items: Rice, Cosmetics, and Favorite Goods Amid Price Hikes
    In Kumamoto Prefecture, fake stores proliferated, targeting the timing of rice price hikes. Consultations about card payments leading to non-delivery on sites described as "too cheap," "unnatural Japanese," and "no address listed" amounted to 335 cases in April and MayTBS NEWS DIG.

  • Victims Among Foreign Students
    Foreign residents in Japan are more likely to choose prepayment due to a lack of credit history and have difficulty accessing consultation desks with limited English support. The Cross-Border Consumer Center (CCJ) reported receiving 1,282 objections in the first half of 2025shohinet-h.or.jp.


2. Evolution of Methods: "Ghost Sellers" and Payment Traps

  1. Ad-Induced Type
    Pattern of impersonating rights holders in SNS ads → fake landing pages → disappearing after bank transfers. IP FORWARD's research points to an increase in "inducement-type scam ads related to counterfeit distribution"JETRO.

  2. Platform Parasitic Type
    On platforms like Mercari and PayPay Flea Market, sellers pretend items are "shipped" and forge tracking numbers. Since 2024, PayPay Flea Market has changed its policy to extend payment to sellers up to 28 days if buyers claim "not received," making refunds easierYahoo! Flea Market.

  3. DM Payment Type
    Claiming "to save fees," they demand PayPay transfers or cryptocurrencies outside the system, leaving buyers without platform protection and cutting off communication.



3. Case Studies: Learning from Real Victims

  • Case A: High-Brand Resale (Instagram)
    Reel ad → DM price negotiation → bank transfer. Account deleted the day after shipping notification. Loss: 120,000 yen.

  • Case B: Rice E-commerce Site (Web)
    Displayed as "10 kg for 1,800 yen including shipping." URL had an added hyphen to the legitimate domain. Even after card payment, status remained "preparing." Consulted Kumamoto Consumer Life Center and successfully got a full refund via chargeback from the card companyTBS NEWS DIG.

  • Case C: Overseas Limited Sneakers (X)
    Seller claimed "shipped via EMS," but the tracking number was one digit short. Collaborated with the police's cyber division, leading to a criminal case and arrest.



4. Seven Steps to Avoid Being a Victim

StepActionKey Points
1Secure EvidenceSave transaction screens, DMs, payment confirmation emails, and fake site HTML as PDFs. DNS history and Whois information can also be useful.
2Demand Seller with a DeadlineRequest proof of shipment with screenshots, specifying a 48-hour grace period.
3File a Dispute with the PlatformContact Mercari "Inquire to the Office," PayPay Flea Market "Refund/Compensation Application," etc. Note that missing deadlines may result in no compensationYahoo! Flea Market.
4Request Chargeback from Payment ProviderFor cards, request a sales cancellation citing "service not provided." Credit card companies generally accept claims within 90 daysKakko Corporation | Fraud Detection Service.
5Consult with Consumer Life CenterDial 188 without an area code. "Cross-Border Consumer Center" accepts inquiries in Japanese and Englishshohinet-h.or.jp.
6Report to Police (#9110) or Cyber DeskEven small amounts have been accepted as damage reports. Can also lead to requests for SNS account suspensionNational Police Agency.
7Hire a Professional (Lawyer or Judicial Scrivener)Small claims and payment orders can be filed with only stamp fees. International civil litigation assistance frameworks can be utilized even for overseas sellers.



5. Support Comparison by Platform

  • Mercari: Office Delivery Compensation / "Safe Transaction" Hold System.

  • PayPay Flea Market: Can extend payment hold even after shipping with "Refund Application"Yahoo! Flea Market.

  • Rakuma: Transaction cancellation deadline is 7 days after the expected delivery date.

  • eBay Japan: Full refund with Buyer Protection. However, English evidence submission is required.



6. Points of Caution for Foreign Users Trading in Japan

  1. Check if Consultation Desks Offer Multilingual Support (188 is in Japanese, CCJ is available in English).

  2. Prioritize Credit Card/PayPal Over Bank Transfers—Chargeback systems are functional.

  3. Refuse to Send Copies of Residence Cards—Scams targeting personal information also occur.



7. Legal Systems and Your Rights

  • Act on Specified Commercial Transactions: Obligation for business representation. False information is subject to administrative action.

  • Consumer Contract Act: Misrepresentation and non-disclosure of important matters are grounds for contract cancellation.

  • Installment Sales Act: Credit companies can stop payments through "defense connection" due to merchant management duty violations.

  • Criminal Law (Fraud): Up to 10 years imprisonment. Cases have been prosecuted even for small amounts.



8. 10-Point Checklist for Safe Transactions

  1. Is the URL a Legitimate Domain?

  2. Are There Any Unnatural Points in Japanese or English Text?

  3. Do the Company Name, Address, and Phone Number Exist?

  4. Is the Payment Method "Prepayment Only"?

  5. Is the Price Extremely Cheap Compared to Market Rates?

  6. Are the SNS Official Marks and Reviews Genuine?

  7. Is the Payment Page SSL (https) Secured?

  8. Have You Been Asked to Change Payment Methods via DM?

  9. Are the Shipping Date and Delivery Company Clearly Stated?

  10. Do You Regularly Save Screen Captures?



9. Conclusion: "Act Immediately If Something Seems Suspicious"

Non-delivery fraud becomes more severe due to "not knowing" or "finding it troublesome to contact."Securing evidence and acting in unison with payment providers, public offices, and the policeis the quickest way to truly recover your money. While personal transactions in the SNS era are convenient, they cannot succeed without risk hedging. We hope this article helps reduce "zero tolerance for giving up" among all users, domestic and international.



🔗List of Reference Articles

  1. National Consumer Affairs Center "Goods Not Arriving in Online Shopping!"##HTML

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