Photo/Illutration The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Kenji Tamura)

Consumer complaints about dodgy bug exterminators and underhand beauty salons stood out among 130,000 cases of suspected fraudulent services and products reported to the Tokyo metropolitan government and municipalities in the capital in fiscal 2023.

A noticeable portion of the complaints were filed by younger generations.

The annual number of consultations sought over prices and services has stayed around the same level for some years although this year’s figure was down a miniscule 0.3 percent from the previous fiscal year.

“We just about manage to handle all the complaints filed each year, given our limited resources,” said a metropolitan government official.

Reports on pest exterminators doubled year on year to 508.

One case concerned an individual who felt ripped off by a bug control specialist after finding a cockroach at home. The exterminator’s online ad stated that prices “start from 550 yen ($3.80).” But after inspecting the house, the exterminator estimated it would cost more than 100,000 yen to do the job, leaving the consumer with a much higher bill than expected.

By age group, those aged 29 or younger made up nearly 40 percent of those who filed complaints. A particularly sharp increase was chalked up among those aged 20 or lower.

The Tokyo government attributed this trend to a surge in advertisements by pest removal agents on search engines for smartphones over the past couple of years or so.

“Students and other youngsters who have just started living by themselves are apt to be at a loss over how to deal with insect infestations,” said a metropolitan government official. “All too often, they receive an extortionately expensive bill from a commissioned agent.”

Complaints about beauty products also rose 1.7-fold year on year to 1,878. Forty percent of those who felt victimized were aged 29 or younger.

Officials cited a dramatic spike from a year earlier in cases involving “cancellations,” “getting refunds” or “contacting service suppliers.”

The explosive increase in complaints followed the bankruptcy of a company that operated a medical hair removal salon.

Among other major problems, complaints concerning water heater replacement increased more than 10 times from the previous fiscal year to 390. Many of the consumers seeking consultations were aged 60 or older.

About 30 percent of all the complaints involved services offered through shopping websites. In these instances, there was a prominent increase in cases among people in their 40s to 60s who felt victimized via social media.

“There must be a flip side to ads promoting products and services for a song on the internet,” said a Tokyo government official who urged caution.

“People really ought to think twice about whether it is possible to sell items so cheaply before telephoning vendors and placing orders,” the official added. “In the same vein, better check the vendors’ IDs when seeing them in person, too.”

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