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An 80-year-old Japanese woman lost ¥1 million to a romance scam by a fraudster posing as an astronaut needing oxygen.
The victim, an 80-year-old woman living alone, first encountered the man on social media in July.
A Japanese woman has been conned out of around ¥1 million (approximately ₹5.5 lakh) by an online fraudster who convinced her he was an astronaut stranded in space and in desperate need of oxygen.
The victim, an 80-year-old woman living alone, first encountered the man on social media in July. Posing as an astronaut, he cultivated a romantic connection before telling her he was “in space on a spaceship right now” and “under attack.” He urged her to transfer money so he could “buy oxygen”. She eventually complied, sending about ¥1 million.
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Police said the woman believed the man’s story as their online relationship deepened.
“If a person you met on social media ever demanded cash from you, please be suspicious of the possibility of a scam, and report to police,” an officer warned, according to AFP.
Japan, home to the world’s second-oldest population, has long struggled with schemes targeting the elderly. Fraudsters often use tactics like the “it’s me” scam, impersonating relatives in need of urgent cash or fake ATM refund schemes.
Romance scams are increasingly prominent. According to the National Police Agency of Japan, 3,326 romance scams were reported in the first 11 months of 2024- more than double the figure from the same period in 2023. Losses amounted to ¥34.6 billion (£173.8m), more than twice the previous year’s total, the Japan Times reported.
The trend mirrors a global surge. In the UK, one in ten adults has been targeted or knows someone affected by romance scams, with victims over 61 losing an average of £19,000 last year, according to Barclays. In the United States, more than 64,000 people lost over $1 billion in 2023, nearly double the figure recorded four years earlier, the Federal Trade Commission said.
- Location :
Japan
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