Osaka Woman Arrested Over Massive Fake Anime Orders
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 16 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
A resident of Osaka has been arrested over an alleged campaign of malicious online ordering targeting Shueisha’s Jump Characters Store, the publisher’s merchandise platform for hit manga and anime franchises . Investigators say 吉田麻祐 repeatedly ordered goods tied to titles including ONE PIECE and NARUTO, then left convenience-store pickups unclaimed or refused cash-on-delivery parcels . The suspected false orders exceeded 2,000 across 238 accounts and involved merchandise worth at least 4.3 billion yen, with direct logistics-related losses estimated at 7.5 million yen . She allegedly told police that placing the orders helped her relieve stress and feel emotionally satisfied .
Key Points
- Police said the Osaka-based suspect, 吉田麻祐, was arrested for allegedly obstructing business through deceptive ordering practices between 2024 and 2025 .
- The orders were placed on Shueisha’s Jump Characters Store, which sells merchandise from major franchises including ONE PIECE and NARUTO .
- Investigators allege she used 238 separate accounts and made more than 2,000 false orders before refusing payment or collection .
- The merchandise value reached at least 4.3 billion yen, roughly HK$213 million, according to the reported scale of the orders .
- Although Shueisha recovered the goods, delivery and warehousing losses were about 7.5 million yen, and stock availability for real customers was disrupted .
Why It Matters
The case highlights how large-scale fake orders can damage online retailers even when goods are eventually recovered, because logistics, storage, and inventory allocation still carry real costs . It also shows how abuse of multiple user accounts can temporarily push popular products out of stock, affecting legitimate buyers and normal sales operations .