Police in Hokkaido, Japan have uncovered a strange romance scam, where an 80-year-old woman lost nearly ¥1 million (almost $6,700) to a scammer who pretended to be an astronaut. The scam began when the victim met the impersonator through social media in July. She believed she and the man had a genuine emotional relationship and bought his story. He told her that he was stuck on a spacecraft orbiting the earth and being attacked. He needed money to buy oxygen.
Convinced by the man who repeated the story, leaving the woman pleading for help, the elderly woman electronically transferred about ¥1 million. The victim later realized she was scammed when police notified her that he had tricked not only her but others as well. This widespread scam obviously exploited the woman’s gullibility and her vulnerabilities as well.
The situation has already been investigated by local police and acted as a warning to the public about the perils of dealing with online scams, especially for older adults, who may be increasingly targeted by online scammers. The authorities only advised extreme caution when communicating with an individual they only met online that asked for money, no matter how interesting, frightening, or plausible their story may be.
This incident has gained international media attention because of its ludicrous circumstances, some reporters have claimed that scammers are operating in the “inventive and outlandish” realm with their stories when they are manipulating and defrauding victims. Police admit and document that romance scams are on the rise across Japan. In the first eleven months in 2023, more than 3,300 reports of scams were reported; more than double if compared to those in the prior calendar year.
Before wiring money, authorities advised citizens to verify unusual requests online (or via email from a family member) with family or local law enforcement. Emergency officials, in particular, emphasized to the elderly the importance of verifying someone’s identity before sending money, as well as not allowing feelings of loneliness online to cloud their rational and objective decision-making when it comes to scams.
This scam demonstrates the lengths that scammers will go to take advantage of someone, posing as astronauts in danger and in need of rescue.
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