Crowdfunding scam in Japan? Where to report it — police, consumer centers, and each platform
Conclusion: report to the platform first, then call Japan's Consumer Hotline (188) in parallel. If it's serious — refusal to refund, no response, apparent fraud — escalate to the police's cyber-crime consultation desk. Neither we nor you have the authority to declare a specific campaign "a scam" — what actually helps is documenting facts and routing them, in order, to the right window.
Before you report: preserve evidence
- Screenshot the project page, your messages with the creator, and your payment history.
- Note down whatever you can confirm about the creator — name, company, contact details.
- Write a factual timeline ("refund refused on X date," "no response since Y date") rather than accusations — facts move faster at every desk below.
1) The platform first
Only the platform can freeze funds or press the creator for answers.
| Platform | Contact / report channel |
|---|---|
| CAMPFIRE | Inquiry form |
| READYFOR | READYFOR Help (contact) |
| Makuake | Makuake Help (contact) |
| GREEN FUNDING | Contact form |
Most projects also have an in-platform message feature to reach the creator directly — but for serious trouble (refund refusal, no response), go straight to the operator's own contact desk above.
2) Japan's Consumer Hotline — 188 ("i-ya-ya")
For money-not-returned or a creator who's gone unresponsive, call 188, Japan's nationwide Consumer Hotline. It routes you (by postal code) to your nearest local consumer affairs center. Outside business hours or on weekends/holidays, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan itself picks up, 10:00–16:00 (closed year-end/New Year). The call is free in substance (standard call charges apply); a trained counselor can advise you or help mediate.
3) Serious cases — police cyber-crime consultation
If refunds keep being refused, the creator's identity itself looks fabricated, or phishing/another crime is involved, contact the National Police Agency's cyber-incident report/consultation/information window (online, via e-Gov) or your local prefectural police's cyber-crime consultation desk. For urgent, in-progress situations, 110 is also an option. The NPA's portal links out to every prefectural police contact.
4) Phishing or a fake site
If a fake page impersonating the platform or a phishing email is involved, Japan's Anti-Spam mail consultation center and the Internet Hotline Center (for illegal content) are additional options. IPA (Japan's information-security agency) also stresses that no legitimate card company or platform will ever ask for your card number or password by email or SMS.
Worth knowing
- Be wary of paid "refund negotiation agencies" that solicit you after a dispute goes public — exhaust the free official channels (188, police) first.
- Backing is support for an attempt, not a purchase — delays, and rarely non-delivery, are part of the risk you accepted. That said, once you've concluded the conduct is genuinely bad, follow the order above and report it.
- For pre-pledge checks, see how to spot a scam, verifying a creator, and the Check tool. For a return that hasn't arrived, see what to do when a Makuake return doesn't arrive; for CAMPFIRE refund conditions, see CAMPFIRE scams and refunds.
