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[December 2018]

Ten major topics for 2018 related to consumer affairs

Every year, NCAC publishes "ten major topics related to consumer affairs" of the year chosen out of the cases that drew significant public attention and/or resulted in a large number of consumer inquiries.

The year of 2018 was marked by a sharp increase in inquiries about billing fraud, and repeated troubles over ownership business and investment in share houses. Moreover, the Civil Code was amended to lower the age of adulthood from 20 to 18 as of 2022 and was enacted by the national legislature in 2018.

Ten major topics for 2018 related to consumer affairs

  • Ever-increasing inquiries about "billing fraud"; fraudulent notices in the form of postcards and sealed letters.
  • Worsening secondary damage related to fraudulent selling of wasteland.
  • Marked by cryptocurrency related troubles; administrative punishment on cryptocurrency exchange operators for failing to secure client funds in the massive theft.
  • Growth of interpersonal transactions through online flea market, etc.
  • Amended Medical Care Act took effect. Now websites of medical institutions are also subject to advertising regulations.
  • Repeated troubles over ownership business and investment in share houses.
  • On the day of coming-of-age ceremony, customers were unable to contact kimono-rental company "Harenohi". Many young people incurred damage.
  • Amendment of the Civil Code. The age of adulthood will be lowered to 18 in 2022.
  • Recurrence of child injuries due to swallowing foreign objects.
  • Frequent occurrence of large-scale natural disasters. Consumer hotline for rainstorm victims was established.