Police in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, arrested Takuya Higashimoto earlier this month after uncovering an audacious scam that defrauded Japan’s food delivery platform Demae-can. Over several months, Higashimoto allegedly placed 1,095 orders under 124 fake identities, using prepaid SIMs and falsified personal data to manipulate the system’s refund process.
Each time he received a meal — ranging from bentos and ice cream to premium steaks — he reported through the app’s chat interface that the delivery had not arrived. Exploiting the company’s “customer-first” policy, he successfully secured immediate refunds, allowing him to continue ordering without payment. His total gains amounted to 3.7 million yen (around ₹21.5 lakh or US$24,000) before the pattern was detected.
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How Digital Loopholes Fueled the Fraud
Investigators revealed that Higashimoto had begun testing the app’s vulnerabilities in April 2023, initially experimenting with small orders before scaling up to large volumes. He reportedly created accounts using random names and email addresses, then deactivated them within days to avoid detection.
His use of prepaid mobile SIM cards — bought anonymously — made tracking nearly impossible. This loophole, authorities noted, reflects a wider concern in Japan and beyond: how digital anonymity and convenience can outpace regulatory safeguards.
“At first, I just tried this trick. I couldn’t stop after reaping the rewards of my fraud,” Higashimoto reportedly told investigators after his arrest.
Platforms Tighten Defenses as Scams Multiply
Following his arrest, Demae-can issued a statement pledging stronger safeguards, including enhanced identity verification, AI-based anomaly detection, and stricter refund procedures. The company said it will also introduce automated systems to flag suspicious order patterns, such as repeated refund requests linked to overlapping delivery zones.
Public reaction online has been mixed — some users expressed astonishment at the scam’s scale, while others blamed the platform’s leniency. One social media user commented: “He’s clever, but the system enabled him. Refund policies need reform, not just arrests.”
Cybercrime analysts pointed out that such “low-cost, high-reward” digital manipulations are increasingly common, especially in consumer tech ecosystems where instant refunds and automated responses leave room for exploitation.
A Global Pattern of Digital Exploitation
Experts note that Higashimoto’s case is not isolated. Similar frauds have been documented in China, India, and Europe, where customers exploited delivery and fintech apps to claim refunds on false non-delivery reports. In one instance last year, a group in Jiangsu province reportedly survived an entire month on food worth just US$3, using nearly identical tactics.
These incidents underline a global challenge: balancing customer protection with fraud prevention. As more economies embrace contactless delivery, digital wallets, and instant reimbursements, platforms are being forced to invest in behavioural analytics and AI-driven risk assessment to spot irregular usage patterns before they scale.
Higashimoto’s case, while extraordinary in scope, serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities hidden within everyday conveniences — and a reminder that in the age of digital immediacy, every click carries a cost.
