An 80-year-old woman in Japan has fallen victim to a shocking romance scam, losing nearly 1 million yen (£5,000) to a fraudster who claimed to be an astronaut in distress.
How the Scam Worked
The victim first connected with the scammer on social media in July. Posing as an astronaut, he gradually built an emotional bond with her. Once trust was established, he told her an unbelievable story: that he was currently “in space on a spaceship” and desperately needed money to buy oxygen after coming under attack.
Believing the story, the woman who lived alone transferred the equivalent of £5,000 to help. Sadly, this is a textbook example of how romance fraudsters manipulate emotions to exploit their victims financially.
Police Warnings
Police in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, have urged the public to stay cautious:
“If someone you meet online asks for money, always suspect a scam and report it to the authorities.”
Japan’s aging population makes older residents especially vulnerable, and similar fraud tactics are on the rise globally.
Common Romance Scam Tactics
- Pretending to be in urgent danger (medical emergency, stranded abroad, or in this case stuck in space).
- Claiming to need money quickly for survival or to “reunite” with the victim.
- Building trust over weeks or months to make the request seem genuine.
A Growing Global Problem
- In Japan, more than 3,300 romance scams were reported in just the first 11 months of 2024 double the year before with damages exceeding ¥34.6bn (£173.8m).
- In the UK, 1 in 10 adults have been targeted or know someone who has. Victims lost an average of £19,000 in 2024 if they were over 60.
- In the US, over 64,000 people lost more than $1 billion to romance scams in 2023.
How to Protect Yourself
- Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Verify their identity reverse image search photos, and watch out for inconsistencies.
- Be skeptical of dramatic stories involving emergencies or secret missions.
- Talk to a friend or family member before transferring money to an online acquaintance.
