Japan Warns Consumers About Cash on Delivery Scams

A surge in bogus cash on delivery parcels puts shoppers on alert

Japan’s National Consumer Affairs Center is warning shoppers about scams tied to cash on delivery, a payment method still used by many buyers who prefer to pay at the door. In fiscal 2024 through March, the center handled a record 14,013 inquiries and consultations about cash on delivery problems. Two thirds of those reports stemmed from online advertisements that led people to dubious shopping sites. The pace has quickened this year. By the end of June, the center had already logged 4,498 cases, about three times the volume from the same period a year earlier. The pattern is consistent: consumers encounter a deal on social media or video platforms, place an order, and receive a different product or substandard item. Others are asked to pay at the door for parcels they never ordered.

Cash on delivery (COD) can feel safer for people wary of card fraud, but it also gives scammers a way to collect money before disputes arise. When a package shows up, shoppers face pressure to pay immediately. If the goods are not as described, refunds can be hard to secure. The consumer affairs center notes that replacement or compensation becomes difficult when several businesses are involved in the transaction, including the seller, marketplace, and delivery firm. In some cases, even the ship from address is unclear, which blocks return or redress.

The warning comes as reports of fraudulent shopping sites and delivery themed fraud rise in Japan. Consumer affairs centers saw an abrupt jump in complaints about scam rice websites this spring, with 335 cases in April and May alone, matching the total logged in all of fiscal 2024. Separate data shows phishing attempts have surged in recent years, with hundreds of thousands of suspicious messages reported and credit card fraud losses reaching record levels. These trends point to a broader environment in which criminals exploit shopping, delivery, and payment routines.

How the schemes work and why COD is targeted

COD in Japan typically involves a carrier who may call ahead to confirm someone is home and to verify the amount due. The method remains popular among people who prefer to avoid using credit cards or who want to limit online exposure of financial data. On the doorstep, the driver collects the payment and hands over the parcel. If the recipient is away, a notice is left for rescheduling or pickup. This familiar routine is exactly what criminals try to mimic or misuse.

One path starts with a social media ad that looks professional and promises brand name goods at steep discounts. The link directs shoppers to a slick site with convincing images and checkout pages. Victims pay with COD to limit financial risk, only to receive fake or lower quality items. When they try to contact the seller, the customer service line is perpetually busy or the address is not traceable. Another tactic is the unsolicited package. People receive a parcel addressed to them with a COD fee attached, even though they never placed an order. Some packets arrive from overseas with little or no sender information, which makes it hard to verify legitimacy or pursue returns.

Brand spoofing adds another layer. Scammers sometimes label parcels as if they came from a major platform. That can induce recipients to pay, especially if they are already waiting for orders from the platform. Large retailers publish clear policies to counter this confusion, and they urge customers to refuse COD packages that appear to use the brand’s name without an actual order in the account history.

Inside recent cases

Recent complaints filed with consumer advisers illustrate how the scams play out. A woman in her forties clicked an ad touting luxury leather sneakers discounted to around 30,000 yen. She placed a cash on delivery order. When she opened the box, the sneakers were artificial leather fakes. She turned to the consumer affairs center for help seeking a refund. In another case, a man in his fifties ordered what was advertised as a golden lantern. A black lantern arrived. The invoice listed a replacement center, but the phone line was always busy. The delivery company told him it did not know the ship from address. He asked authorities for help.

Warnings from Japan’s consumer agency include earlier examples of people paying for unexpected COD parcels. In one, a family member paid while the addressee was out, only to discover a cheap trinket inside. The official guidance is blunt about unsolicited deliveries.

The National Consumer Affairs Center advisory states:

If you receive a product you did not order, do not accept it. Even if you accept it, you do not need to pay for it.

First hand accounts shared online show similar attempts. One resident described a uniformed driver presenting an Amazon labeled package with a 26,000 yen COD fee. The recipient checked their order history, found no such purchase, and refused payment. The driver canceled the delivery on the spot.

Officials stress a simple rule for suspicious offers. As one NCAC representative put it:

If you feel something fishy, even just a little bit, do not order it.

Why many shoppers still choose COD

Japan is moving toward digital payments, but cash habits remain strong. Cashless methods now account for over 40 percent of consumer spending, yet many people still choose COD for convenience and peace of mind. Some prefer to pay only when a package is in hand. Others worry about card fraud or have limited access to credit. Small retailers and marketplaces continue to list COD alongside cards, bank transfers, mobile wallets, and buy now pay later.

Japan’s online commerce is growing quickly, supported by new payment options and better fraud controls. Even so, COD endures because it feels straightforward. You pay at the door and avoid entering card details online. That perceived safety can backfire. Doorstep payments create a moment where a bad actor can extract cash before you have a chance to inspect the product or verify the seller. If the seller disappears or the marketplace denies involvement, the delivery company may not have enough sender information to support a return.

This complexity is what authorities highlight. Multiple parties are involved, and liability is not always clear. Shoppers who paid in cash are often left with fewer tools to challenge the transaction than those who used a credit card with chargeback rights. The result is a difficult path to replacement or compensation.

What authorities and platforms advise now

Japan’s consumer protection bodies urge people to verify sellers and to be prepared to refuse suspicious packages. The National Consumer Affairs Center’s advisory explains that recipients are not obligated to pay for items they did not order. If an unsolicited COD parcel shows up, instruct the carrier to return it. If you already paid by mistake, contact the seller and the delivery company immediately, keep all packaging, and consult your local consumer center via the nationwide hotline at 188. For criminal matters or urgent consultation, the police desk is reachable at #9110. The agency also cautions against returning unknown foreign packets without careful consideration, since returns can create new costs.

Major platforms echo these points. Amazon’s customer service page makes its stance explicit:

Cash on delivery is not available on Amazon. If your Amazon package arrives with cash on delivery, please refuse to accept it.

When in doubt, go to the platform’s official app or website directly instead of clicking links in emails or texts. Most major services offer a message center or order history that shows your real activity. If a message claims to be from a retailer but does not appear in the app’s message center, treat it as suspect. If you entered personal or payment information on a spoofed site, change your passwords, enable two step verification, and contact your bank or card issuer at once.

• Check sellers for proper company addresses, phone numbers, and return policies. Avoid sites with only a web form or messaging app contact.
• Be cautious with social media ads, especially when prices are far below market. Counterfeit or bait and switch schemes often rely on steep discounts.
• Use official brand sites or authorized retailer pages to confirm product details before placing orders.
• Save screenshots of final checkout pages and order confirmations. Keep copies of ads that led you to the site.
• For delivery notifications, ignore links in texts or emails and confirm delivery status in the courier’s official app.
• Pick payment methods with built in protection. Credit cards and some wallets can support dispute resolution if goods are not as described.
• Enable two step verification on shopping and email accounts to reduce account takeover risks.

How to tell a scam from a legitimate extra charge

Some shoppers encounter genuine fees linked to shipping and customs. Logistics companies sometimes pay duties or import taxes in advance and later bill the recipient. Those invoices can be a surprise, especially when sellers do not clearly disclose duties at checkout. That is a legitimate process for many cross border purchases, and the bill usually comes as a separate invoice rather than a demand for cash at the door for an order you do not recognize.

Scams tend to combine urgency with a lack of transparency. If you receive a COD request for a product you did not order, refuse delivery and verify your order history on the retailer’s official site or app. Ask the driver to identify the sender and show any invoice details. Be cautious of vague claims such as reshipping fees, warehouse charges, or customs clearance fees when the sender identity is unclear. A genuine seller should be traceable, and the charge should match a known order.

Fake delivery messages are a major risk vector. Attackers impersonate carriers, telling people to click a link to pay a fee or reschedule delivery. Many victims reported clicking such links and entering bank or card details on convincing lookalike sites. The safest response is to open the courier’s official app or a bookmarked website to check whether a delivery or fee is real.

If you already paid or accepted

Act quickly and document everything. Keep the parcel, packaging, receipts, and the carrier slip. Take photos of the box, labels, and contents. Contact the seller using the official website details, and notify the delivery company that you suspect fraud. If you paid with a credit card or wallet, ask your issuer about dispute options. If you paid cash at the door, request the carrier’s investigation flow and whether a return to sender is possible.

Report the incident to your local consumer affairs center via 188, and contact the police consultation desk at #9110 if you suspect criminal fraud. Save any ads, website links, and message screenshots that led to the order. These records help investigators trace the seller and support any civil or criminal complaint.

The broader fraud picture

Japan’s consumer watchdogs are tracking sharp increases in fraud tied to online shopping and deliveries. Reports about scam rice websites jumped to 335 in April and May, matching the total tally for all of the previous fiscal year. Officials urge shoppers to look closely at site reliability and to capture the final confirmation screen to help resolve disputes.

Phishing schemes are also widespread. Attackers send alarming messages that imitate banks, mobile carriers, and delivery services. Reports exceeded half a million in one recent year, and credit card fraud losses hit tens of billions of yen. The emails and texts often point to near perfect copies of official sites that are hard to distinguish on a phone screen. Direct navigation through official apps or bookmarks is the safest way to verify.

Another trend involves packets from overseas with little sender information. Consumer authorities advise against paying or rushing to return these items. Unsolicited deliveries do not create an obligation to pay, and unnecessary returns can add costs or expose more personal information.

Key Points

• Consumer authorities in Japan recorded 14,013 cash on delivery related consultations in fiscal 2024 and 4,498 more by the end of June this year.
• About 66 percent of the cases originated from online ads, often for brand name items at steep discounts.
• Common patterns include receiving fake or different goods, or being asked to pay COD for unsolicited packages.
• Multiple parties in COD transactions can make replacement and compensation difficult.
• NCAC guidance says unsolicited products do not create an obligation to pay, and suspicious parcels should be refused.
• Amazon states it does not offer COD and advises customers to refuse any Amazon labeled COD deliveries.
• Delivery themed phishing is rising. Verify delivery status through official apps instead of clicking links.
• Legitimate customs duties are typically billed through clear channels and tied to known orders, not random doorstep demands.
• Call 188 for consumer advice and #9110 for police consultation if you suspect fraud.
• Save order confirmations and screenshots, and choose payment methods that offer dispute protection.