Overview

• An 80-year-old woman in Sapporo met a man on social media in July and developed feelings during weeks of online exchanges.
• The man posed as an astronaut who said he was on a spaceship under attack and urgently needed oxygen.
• The victim transferred about ¥1,000,000 via electronic money after he requested funds for oxygen supplies.
• Contact ceased after the transfer, and the woman subsequently reported the fraud to Hokkaido police.
• No suspect has been identified or arrested, as authorities note rising romance fraud with 3,326 cases reported in the first 11 months of 2024.