Warning to Kenyans

Further to earlier warnings on this subject, the Embassy once again wishes to bring to the attention of Kenyans that fraud in the purchase of motor vehicles from Japan has attained alarming levels, with many Kenyans losing valuable funds to unscrupulous used motor vehicle exporters. Consequently, the Embassy is overwhelmed by messages of appeal for assistance to recover cash by Kenyans who have fallen victim.
The Embassy would like to inform that it has constantly engaged the relevant authorities to prosecute the unscrupulous business practitioners but the following factors have impeded action:

1. Under the Japanese law, fraud is regarded as a civil offence which can only be resolved through INTERPOL or by engaging a lawyer for the due process.
2. Most of fraudulent cases are carried out by foreigners singularly or in collaboration with Japanese criminals through fake internet addresses that are not officially registered, or even sometimes registered officially. This makes it even harder to identify fraudulent cases from genuine ones. In addition, they are not physically on the ground with offices/vehicle yards. In some respect, some may not even be living and operating from Japan. Consequently, it has been extremely difficult to trace them.

 

URGENT WARNING ON RECENTLY REPORTED FRAUD CASESS

We have received complaints about Tokyo Trading Ltd., receiving money from Kenyans and not sending them the cars as agreed. The company contacts as given below seem not to be in use since we have tried to reach them through the same to no avail.

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1. TOKYO TRADING LTD.

Address:
836-1 Haematsu, Kawaguchi Shi, SAITAMA 334-0062
Tel/Whatsapp:   +81-80-8891-6801

The allegations are that the dealer known by the name Daniel stopped communication after money was paid into the company account. The Embassy therefore wishes to advise Kenyans not to transfer funds to the company through their bank accounts as indicated below:

Bank accounts:
Mizuho Bank (Soka Branch) 3042710
Sumitomo Mitsui Bank (Soka Branch) 143729

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The Embassy also wishes to remind Kenyans that our earlier warning against sending money to the following companies still stands:

2. AUCTION HOUSE JAPAN
3. AUTOROD
4. CAR HUB JAPAN

Addresses:
101, Hashimoto house 4-1-1 Shirokane Minato-Ku Tokyo 108-0072
Oak Minami-Azabu Budg. 11F, 3-19-23 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku Tokyo 106-0047

Bank accounts:
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Akasaka Branch)
Account 1: No. 2853688 (Auction House Japan)
Account 2: No. 2854439 (Autorod Co., Ltd.)
Account 3: No. 2853661 (Car Hub Japan)

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The Embassy wishes to remind Kenyans to check the genuineness of companies they are dealing with before committing their funds. The embassy further reiterate that prospective buyers should only deal with companies which are members of the Japanese Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association (JUMVEA) https://jumvea.or.jp/ which ensures that its members are severely punished and funds refunded in case of any misdeed.