Beware of "Kani-Kani Scam": Fraudulent Seafood Calls Impersonating Hokkaido Vendors on the Rise in Japan
What Is the "Kani-Kani Scam"?
The "Kani-Kani Scam" (literally "Crab-Crab Scam") is a type of telephone fraud where scammers pose as seafood vendors from Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture famous for its premium crab. While the name might sound amusing, this scam is a serious issue that generates thousands of complaints to Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center annually.
The scam typically involves aggressive telephone sales tactics, unsolicited shipments of overpriced goods via cash-on-delivery (COD), and deceptive marketing practices known in Japan as "negative option" sales.
The Scale of the Problem
According to Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center, complaints about seafood telephone solicitation and unsolicited deliveries have fluctuated as follows:
- FY2020: Approximately 2,281 cases
- FY2021: Approximately 5,194 cases (more than double the previous year)
- FY2022: Over 2,800 cases
- FY2025: Over 2,500 cases (as of November)
Cases spike during the year-end and New Year holiday season when demand for crab is at its highest. In June 2022, Hokkaido Police arrested executives of a telemarketing company in Sapporo for violating Japan's Specified Commercial Transactions Act, with reported damages totaling approximately 500 million yen (around $3.3 million USD).
How the Scam Works
1. The Initial Call
Scammers typically open with phrases designed to create false familiarity:
- "Thank you for your previous purchase"
- "This is XX Seafood Company that you ordered from before"
- "We're calling from a Hokkaido food exhibition"
- "Due to COVID-19, we're struggling and need your support"
- "Because of overseas import restrictions, we need help selling our products"
2. Persuasive Sales Tactics
Callers often use the victim's name to create a sense of personal connection and employ high-pressure sales techniques:
- "These are 4L-5L sized crabs with meat packed tight in every leg"
- "Originally priced at 40,000-50,000 yen, special price today only: 19,800 yen"
- "This is a limited-time offer, today only"
- "I guarantee this will be one of the top three crabs you've ever eaten"
3. Aggressive Closing and Forced Shipments
Even when refused, scammers continue pressing. In worst cases, they ship products via COD despite the victim's clear rejection.
4. What Actually Arrives
Products received typically differ drastically from what was promised:
- "Hokkaido crab" turns out to be cheap imported seafood
- Overpriced crab with barely any meat inside
- Missing items from the described package contents
How to Identify This Scam
Be suspicious if you notice these warning signs:
- Calls from mobile numbers starting with 080 or 070
- Refusal to provide company name or address
- Claims of previous purchases you don't remember
- Excessive appeals to sympathy or emotion
- Vague about product weight or specifications
- Pressure tactics using "limited time" or "special offer" language
How to Protect Yourself
Handling the Call
- Refuse firmly: If anything seems suspicious, clearly say "I'm not interested" and hang up
- Verify information: Ask for company name, address, and phone number, then offer to call back
- Use voicemail: Don't answer unknown numbers; check messages first
- Share information: Especially important for households with elderly members
If Products Arrive
- Refuse delivery: You can refuse to accept COD packages
- Opening is OK: Even if you've opened the package, you can still exercise cooling-off rights
- No obligation to pay: You have no obligation to pay for products you didn't order
Cooling-Off Rights
Even if you're pressured into a telephone purchase, Japan's consumer protection law allows an 8-day cooling-off period (unconditional cancellation) from the date you receive the contract documents. This applies even to perishable goods like seafood.
Where to Get Help
If you encounter this scam in Japan:
- Consumer Hotline: 188 (pronounced "i-ya-ya!" meaning "No way!")
- Police Consultation Line: #9110
- Local Consumer Affairs Center: Available in most municipalities
Conclusion
The Kani-Kani Scam is a particularly problematic fraud that increases significantly during the holiday season. If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be a Hokkaido seafood vendor, stay alert and don't hesitate to firmly refuse.
This type of telephone fraud has become a significant social issue in Japan. What about in your country? Are there similar phone scams targeting consumers? How do people protect themselves from telephone fraud where you live? We'd love to hear your experiences in the comments!
References
Reactions in Japan
Got a Kani-Kani scam call at my place too! They said 'you purchased from us before' but I've never bought anything, so I hung up immediately. It's scary that they know my name and address...
My parents got scammed into buying crab... When it arrived, the meat was practically empty, clearly not worth 10,000 yen. Targeting the elderly like this is unforgivable.
The name 'Kani-Kani Scam' is too cute and doesn't convey how serious it is. Maybe they should give it a more impactful name like 'Ore-Ore Scam.'
Called 188 and they were very helpful. They told me I could use the cooling-off period. If you're in trouble, you should definitely call the consumer hotline first.
I feel bad for legitimate Hokkaido seafood vendors suffering from this negative publicity. It's really frustrating that scammers are damaging the image of all Hokkaido crab.
After canceling my landline and using only my mobile, these scam calls stopped. I want to recommend my elderly parents cancel their landline too.
The 'Hokkaido' crab that arrived at my friend's place turned out to be from Russia when they checked. This is totally illegal including the false origin labeling.
They just wouldn't hang up no matter how many times I refused... In the end they yelled at me and hung up. It was really scary. I want to record it and report them.
The increase in Kani-Kani scams at year-end has become like an annual tradition. Can't they crack down on this more?
Many people find it hard to refuse when told 'we're struggling because of COVID, please help.' It's despicable how they exploit that psychology.
Many people probably don't know you can refuse to accept COD packages. This information should be more widely known.
My mother with dementia keeps buying from phone calls no matter how many times I explain... I've put up warning notes by the phone but it doesn't help. How can we protect her as a family?
When I searched the phone number, tons of scam reports came up. These kinds of sites are really helpful. I recommend searching the number when you get a suspicious call.
Got a message from my mom saying 'I'm sending you delicious crab' and had a bad feeling... Sure enough, it was Kani-Kani scam. When I called to cancel, they surprisingly accepted right away.
A fraud group that made 500 million yen was arrested, but similar calls are still coming, which means other groups are doing the same thing? That's dark.
We have similar scams in the US. 'IRS impersonation calls' are famous, where they threaten to arrest you if you don't pay taxes. Phone scams seem to be a universal problem.
In the UK, 'boiler room scams' for fake investments are a big problem. Using crab is so uniquely Japanese (lol). But it's no laughing matter for the victims.
Phone scams are a serious problem in China too. The fact that elderly people are often targeted is the same as in Japan. I think sharing information within families is important.
In Spain, 'lottery winning scam' calls are common. The pattern is 'Congratulations! You need to pay a fee to receive your prize.' Scammers' tactics are similar everywhere.
In Taiwan, 'government official impersonation fraud' is also a problem. Hokkaido crab is popular in Taiwan too, so scams like this are unforgivable!
In Germany, the 'grandchild trick' (Enkeltrick) is famous. Targeting the elderly seems universal. I think it's great that Japan has a consultation hotline like 188.
In Australia, we have 'Scamwatch' website where you can report scams. If Japan had a similar system, more people could share information, don't you think?
In Korea, 'voice phishing' phone scams are a social problem too. Many pretend to be bank employees to extract account information. International cooperation is needed.
We have similar scams in France too. What's particularly interesting is that in Japan they use 'crab,' a seasonal product. Scammers really know the culture and customs well.
Phone scams are increasing in Vietnam too. The 8-day cooling-off period is reassuring for consumers. I wish Vietnam had such a system too.
In Canada, 'CRA scams' (impersonating the Canada Revenue Agency) are a problem. To protect the elderly, watching out for them through family and community is important.
In Mexico, 'kidnapping scam' calls are common. They lie that a family member has been kidnapped and demand ransom. Scammers exploit emotions everywhere.
In New Zealand, 'tech support scams' are common too. They pretend to be Microsoft and try to remotely access your computer. But crab scam is new to me!
In Italy, there are 'fake police officer scams' targeting the elderly. The Japanese case is interesting. Using food for scams exploits trust in Japanese food culture.
Scam calls are increasing in Singapore too. The government has introduced an app system to identify scam calls. Japan might want to consider technology-based countermeasures as well.