crime

Utsunomiya woman swindled out of Y150 million

12 Comments

Police are investigating a case in which a 67-year-old woman living in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, was robbed of over 150 million yen after being swindled by a fraudulent investment opportunity.

In October of last year, a man called the woman claiming to be working for a legitimate food manufacturing and distribution company, TBS reported Saturday. He told her that his company had the opportunity to issue bonds from the Ministry of Agriculture at an annual interest rate of 15%. The man even went as far as to send her an information packet explaining the loan opportunity.

Having convinced the woman of the legitimacy of his offer, for three months following the phone call, the conman visited the woman's house over 14 times and in all, received over 150 million yen in payments from the woman.

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12 Comments
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He was Japanese and Japan is a safe country. That would be what she believed and that is what most Japanese believe.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Dayum, that ain't right. Hope they catch this guy.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Gaijin traveler, just because you believe something to be true, does not make it so. There is a big difference between personal safety and safety of one's finances and maybe you are confusing safety with trust. With the wide proliferation of the 'ore ore' scams, it's a fact that there is quite a bit of fraud going on in this country. She could have easily found out if this guy was legit by calling his ''company'' or asking to see his credentials...reasonable due diligence. She was extremely naive and she got burned. It's a regular happening and that's why there are commercials on TV and campaigns warning people about these scams. Want to put some money on it that now she still thinks Japan is safe but won't be as trusting with her money (if she has any left, that is)?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

What a moron. Fools and their money.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Swindlers read newspapers like librarians, looking always for topical scams they can fasten to fact.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I just wish I had that kind of money ! You better be sure it would used to help our current "investment" in our "Little House (not quite) on the Prairie..."

4 ( +4 / -0 )

She never thought to check this guy out more fully and just handed over a large sum of cash to him? Due diligence!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

There`s a Japanese term for this kind of person, "Greedy and Senile/Foolish at the same time!"

2 ( +2 / -0 )

15% return?

In Japan?

That should've sent the alarm bells ringing straight away....,

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How the hell did she get that amount of money in the first place if she was so careless about losing it. A 15% interest rate on government bonds??? And what's the point of investing 150,000,000yen when you're 67?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Yaks make another easily bundle of Yen preying on the aged.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She probably inherited the money. I doubt she labored for it and saved it. If I am wrong though, sorry (just basing this on the odds).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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