US EditionFake 'Astronaut' Cons Japanese Woman Out of ₹6 Lakh for Oxygen to Return From Space
The scam exploited the victim's loneliness and trust, leading her to send about $5,000 under false pretenses of an emergency in space, officials said.
- A senior female resident of northern Japan was scammed out of nearly 600,000 rupees by a fraudster who pretended to be an astronaut stranded in outer space.
- The scam began in July when the woman met the man on social media and was convinced he needed money urgently to buy oxygen for survival aboard his spaceship.
- The victim developed romantic feelings for the imposter, transferred funds as requested, and the man cut off all contact after receiving the money, severing ties completely.
- Japan reported 3,326 romance scam cases in the first 11 months of 2024, more than doubling the prior year, with authorities warning especially older adults to stay cautious.
- Local police urged the public to report suspicious demands from online contacts immediately, reflecting rising scams targeting vulnerable, isolated individuals in Japan's aging society.
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Japanese woman, 80, duped of Rs 6 lakh in romance scam by 'astronaut stuck in space'
Authorities in Hokkaido said the woman first encountered the individual on social media in July. The man, who claimed to be working as an astronaut, gradually won her trust in what investigators are calling a romance scam.
·India
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Fake 'astronaut' cons Japanese woman out of ₹6 lakh for oxygen to return from space
An 80-year-old woman in Japan lost nearly ₹6 lakh to a scammer posing as an astronaut. After developing feelings for him online, she sent money for oxygen, but was cut off after the transfer.
·New Delhi, India
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left2Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Right
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Right
43% Right
L 29%
C 29%
R 43%
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