Overview

• Police say the 80-year-old victim met the man on social media in July and developed feelings as their messages increased.
• The fraudster claimed he was in space under attack and said he needed money to buy oxygen.
• Investigators report the woman made prepaid transfers via five convenience stores between mid-July and the end of August, totaling about ¥1,000,000 (roughly $6,700).
• After realizing the deceit, the woman told her family and then reported the case to police.
• Authorities warn of a surge in romance scams nationwide, citing thousands of cases and tens of billions of yen in 2024 losses, and note no arrests or recovered funds in this case.