A woman in Japan fell victim to a scam where the perpetrator pretended to be an astronaut under attack on a spaceship and convinced her to transfer ¥1million (£5,000) to him. The fraudster initiated the scam by connecting with the woman on social media, posing as an astronaut to build a relationship with her online. The incident, categorized as a romance scam by local authorities, exploited the woman living on Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan.
Law enforcement officials suspect that the scam artist manipulated the victim through deception as part of a larger romance scam strategy. They caution the public to be wary of individuals requesting money, particularly those met online, to prevent falling prey to such fraudulent activities.
According to the World Bank, Japan ranks as the second-oldest country globally, following Monaco. Recent research from CIFAS revealed that scams in the UK amounted to over £11.4 billion in losses within the twelve months leading up to November 2024.
The issue of online scams was highlighted on a television program, This Morning, where a guest shared the story of her late husband falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme. The husband, Tim, encountered an advertisement on Facebook promising lucrative returns through a Bitcoin platform falsely associated with financial expert Martin Lewis. Despite initial appearances of legitimacy and profitability, Tim invested his and his wife’s savings, leading to a devastating loss of £120,000. Tragically, Tim passed away 18 months later due to pancreatic cancer.
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