Fraudulent Home Inspection Scams Reach Record High in 2024 with 66 Cases Linked to Tokuryu; Copper Wire Theft of 1.7 Million Yen

In 2024, the number of cases involving fraudulent home inspection scams by unscrupulous renovation companies reached a record high, with 66 incidents reported, according to the National Police Agency. This figure represents a 70% increase from the previous year, marking the highest number of cases since statistics began being collected in 2014. Approximately 20% of these cases were linked to a group known as 'トクリュウ' (Tokuryu). The police have also arrested two individuals in connection with a separate incident involving the theft of approximately 560 meters of copper wire, valued at 1.7 million yen, from a solar power facility in Yori Town, Saitama. These developments highlight ongoing issues with fraudulent practices in the renovation industry and property-related crimes in Japan.