To date, we have seen many interesting scam methods. Some were even creative enough to make you say “it can’t be more than that”. But once again, we are faced with a method that misleads us.
The scammers first contacted a 65-year-old person living in the city of Higashi-Omi in Shiga Prefecture, via Instagram, in June 2022, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported. He then resumed communication through the messaging app Line.
The scammer said he was working as an astronaut on the International Space Station. He wrote that he wanted to start a new life when he returned to Earth. He even told the woman that he loved her and would marry her.
After a while, the scammer said that he had to pay “landing money” to return to Japan. Between August 19 and September 5, the innocent victim sent the scammer a total of 4.4 million yen in five separate bank transfers.
But when the money requests continued, the victim became suspicious and decided to go to the police. The Higashi-Omi Police Station is currently investigating the matter.
Don’t believe it if one day you get a text from someone saying they’re stranded on the International Space Station and need money to get back to Earth. Otherwise, it is inevitable that you will be the subject of such a strange news.
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