Japanese Woman Arrested for $27M Anime Merchandise Scam
A 32-year-old restaurant worker in Osaka's Kita Ward has been arrested for ordering over $27 million worth of anime merchandise from a popular online retailer. Mayu Yoshida, who had previously made legitimate purchases, exploited Japan's convenience store prepayment system and cash-on-delivery payment method to place orders without paying. She created 238 different customer accounts to evade detection by the retailer's safeguards.
The total value of the unpaid orders is approximately 4.3 billion yen, with an additional 7.5 million yen in fees incurred by the retailer for shipping and restocking costs. Yoshida admitted to her actions during a police statement, citing stress from daily life as a reason for her behavior. She has been charged with fraudulent obstruction of business.
According to the police investigation, Yoshida would order items through various accounts, selecting the convenience store prepayment or cash-on-delivery methods. However, she would never pay for or take delivery of the merchandise, taking advantage of the retailer's safeguards and leaving them to cover the losses.