Key Facts
• April 2024: Six suspects, including Shunta Suzuki (22), arrested for fraud.
• Victim lured via dating app to a bar in Shibuya, Tokyo.
• High drink charges and false claims led to $130,000 extorted.
• March 2024: Similar scam defrauded another victim of $440,000.
• Suspects forced victims to withdraw money at ATMs.
• False claims included “business losses” to justify compensation demands.
• Five suspects admitted guilt; one withheld statement.
• First nationwide arrest for fraud involving dating apps.
Summary
Six individuals, including 22-year-old Shunta Suzuki, were arrested in Tokyo for orchestrating a scam using a dating app. Victims were lured to a bar in Shibuya, where they were charged exorbitant drink fees and coerced into paying compensation under false pretenses. In one case, $130,000 was extorted, while another victim lost $440,000. The suspects used ATMs to force payments, citing fabricated business losses. Five of the six suspects admitted to the charges, marking the first nationwide arrest for fraud involving dating apps.
