Latest news with #creditCardFraud
Japan Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Beware of dubious websites offering cheap rice, consumer watchdog warns
With rice prices in Japan still at sky-high levels, some consumers have turned to websites offering discounts as a way to cut cost — only to end up getting scammed. The Consumer Affairs Agency on Tuesday raised the alarm on the existence of fraudulent websites claiming to sell and deliver discounted rice, warning consumers that they could end up empty-handed. In a typical case, a consumer who purchases rice from such a website ends up waiting for shipments that never arrive, and attempts to contact the company in charge of the delivery become an exercise of futility. Last month, a man tried to purchase a bag of rice for ¥3,899 ($27) via an ad on a smartphone app. But when he placed the order, he got a receipt for a pair of sunglasses. Neither the sunglasses nor the rice was delivered to him, the agency said. In another case, a man in his 20s used his credit card to order two 10-kilogram bags of rice on a website for ¥4,050 — about a quarter of the retail price. But he became suspicious when he didn't receive a confirmation email. When he tried calling the number listed on the website, it was an unused number. The agency advises consumers to look up the names, addresses and phone numbers of companies that claim to sell rice at unusually low prices to determine their legitimacy before making any purchase. The average supermarket price of a 5-kg bag of rice rose to a record ¥4,268 in the week starting May 5, more than double what it was the same time last year. A week earlier, the average price experienced an ever-so-slight dip of ¥19, which raised a glimmer of hope that the supply chain bottleneck was beginning to show signs of improvement. The government has been auctioning off rice from its emergency stockpile since March to help bring down prices. But farm ministry data released Tuesday showed that out of the 210,000 metric tons of rice sold to distributors in the first two rounds of bidding, only 10% had reached the market in the span of a month. Although around 209,000 tons have been auctioned to distributors, only 54,645 tons have made it to wholesalers and 22,303 tons to retailers or restaurants, the data showed. The other 1,000 tons remains in storage. In the third auction, which took place in late April, around 97% of the rice offered went to the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations — similar to the results of the two earlier auctions.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
ICE Barbie Kristi Noem's purse snatcher used her credit card to spend just $15 at an unusual location
Prosecutors are building their case against those accused of stealing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's bag and using her credit card. As Noem dined with her family on Easter Sunday, the alleged theives made off with her purse, including her passport, DHS ID, wallet and $3,000 in cash which was to be gifts for her grandchildren. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host, signed an indictment Thursday naming Mario Bustamante Leiva and Cristian Montecino-Sananza. The document includes findings from federal prosecutors and demands the forfeiture of the stolen goods or anything derived from their sale. Bustamante Leiva is alleged to have robbed Noem at The Capital Burger in Washington, D.C. before going to Angolo Ristorante Italiano, a local Italian restaurant, and racking up a bill. Pirro is now demanding he pay up. According to the U.S. Attorney's indictment he spent $15.40. However, a Department of Justice file on the case alleges he racked up a bill just over $200. Images of the illegal immigrant in that file show him with Noem's Gucci bag at the bar. Dubbed the 'ICE Barbie' for her many law enforcement-related looks, Noem has a taste for designer. Though the secretary has a full Secret Service security detail, no one saw Bustamante Leiva, who was wearing a mask at the time, drag the secretary's bag away from her with his foot before picking it up and walking out, according to the DOJ. Bustamante Leiva, 49, admitted to authorities after his arrest that he is homeless and an alcoholic. According to the DOJ he 'made a total of five purchases using [Noem's] American Express credit cards in the amount of $205.87,' at Angolo Ristorante Italiano. They allege that after a night out drinking he fell asleep on some patio furniture close to the Georgetown bar until the following morning. Pirro is accusing the pair of multiple counts of wire fraud, aiding and abetting, aggravated identity theft and robbery. The indictment also alleges the accused have a habit of snatching purses and later spending the money found in them. In another theft days before stealing Noem's bag, the criminal pair stole a purse, bought a $500 Visa gift card, purchased several nights at multiple hotels, trips on the D.C. metro and more, the legal document alleges. In total there are nine counts cited in the indictment in addition to two forfeiture allegations. Pirro, a longtime host of the Fox News show 'The Five,' was sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., this week after Trump pulled his nomination for Ed Martin after the Senate expressed reluctance to confirm him. 'I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,' Trump wrote on social media announcing the nomination last week. The indictment filed Thursday is one of Pirro's first official actions in the new role. She will oversee all federal crimes in the nation's capital.
