Consumer Affairs Agency warns of counterfeit gold and pearl scams

The Consumer Affairs Agency has issued a warning regarding fraudulent websites impersonating reputable brands Tanaka Kikinzoku and Mikimoto to sell counterfeit precious metals and jewelry. Since October 2025, 239 reports of such scams have been filed with consumer centers.

The fraudulent sites use social media advertisements on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to lure customers with extreme discounts, such as selling 24K gold coins at 15,000 yen or pearl necklaces at 14,800 yen. They often use high-pressure tactics like “only 11 left” or “today only” to rush purchases.

Investigations revealed that the products received were not authentic. The “gold” coins were primarily composed of 70% copper and 20% iron, making them magnetic and unusually light, while the pearl necklaces were plastic imitations. The sites exclusively accept cash on delivery, and the shipments originate from outside Japan. The agency has identified three specific domains used in these scams: “dccvd. com”, “dcvfert. top”, and “mzisoe. top”.