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Kyodo

Japan’s consumer affairs centre has called on people grappling with soaring rice prices to beware of websites claiming to sell the staple at heavily discounted prices.
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.

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.
She received neither the sunglasses nor the rice.
The centre called on consumers to thoroughly vet business operators and avoid buying from websites that sell rice at unrealistically low prices.
The warning came as the average price of rice at supermarkets has risen steadily in recent months due partly to a poor harvest – hitting a record 4,285 yen per 5kg (11lbs) in mid-May, roughly double last year’s level.
As the government’s attempt to curb prices with the release of its rice stockpiles has so far had a limited impact, it has begun selling through direct contracts under new farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who has targeted reducing prices to around 2,000 yen per 5kg (11lbs) by early June.


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As Japan’s rice prices soar, scammers cash in on hunger for cheap deals

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News

Asia

East Asia

Complaints related to scam websites claiming to sell the staple at heavily discounted prices have spiked since March


Complaints related to scam websites claiming to sell the staple at heavily discounted prices have spiked since March.


Food and agriculture

Consumers

Scams and swindles

Food and Drinks

As Japan’s rice prices soar, scammers cash in on hunger for cheap deals

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Complaints related to scam websites claiming to sell the staple at heavily discounted prices have spiked since March

Complaints related to scam websites claiming to sell the staple at heavily discounted prices have spiked since March