Man eats food worth ₹21.5 lakh for free by scamming food delivery app. Here's how he was caught

A 38-year-old man in Japan has been arrested for allegedly scamming a major food delivery platform, reportedly racking up losses of more than 3.7 million yen (around Rs. 21.5 lakh or US$24,000), according to a report by the South China Morning Post and Japan Times. Authorities apprehended Takuya Higashimoto in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, in early October after uncovering his elaborate scheme.

How He Pulled It Off
Higashimoto reportedly placed 1,095 orders through the platform Demae-can, consuming everything without paying. His method relied on the app’s contactless delivery option, combined with falsely claiming that his orders had never arrived to secure refunds. On July 30, he created a new account using a fake name and address and ordered ice cream, bentos, and chicken steaks. Using the app’s chat feature, he claimed the items did not arrive and immediately received a refund of 16,000 yen (about Rs 9,300).

An Army of Fake Accounts
Authorities revealed that since April 2023, Higashimoto had operated 124 accounts, often signing up and cancelling memberships within days. To evade detection, he purchased numerous prepaid mobile phone cards and registered accounts with false personal information. “At first, I just tried this trick. I couldn’t stop after reaping the rewards of my fraud,” Higashimoto admitted to police.

Platform Pledges Tighter Security
In response, Demae-can promised to strengthen identity verification and implement alerts to detect abnormal activity. Internet users in China and Japan expressed shock and fascination at the audacity of the scam. One online commenter said, “He is quite clever. I have to admit that he is diligent for opening so many accounts and manipulating the delivery platform.” Another criticized the platform, noting, “The refund policies need improvement. They are too lenient with customers.”

Not an Isolated Case
Experts note that similar schemes have occurred elsewhere. Last year, three people in Jiangsu province, China, survived a month with a combined total of merely 19 yuan (US$3) by ordering food through a delivery app and claiming refunds on unreceived items. These incidents highlight potential gaps in digital payment and delivery systems, prompting companies to revisit their policies.

Higashimoto’s case serves as a striking example of how digital platforms can be exploited when verification processes lag behind innovative fraud tactics. While authorities work to bring such scams under control, users and companies alike are reminded to remain vigilant against loopholes that could be exploited on a massive scale.