Key Facts
• In late January 2025, a woman in her 70s in Tsu City, Mie, received a call from a scammer posing as a telecom customer service representative.
• A man claiming to be “Wakana” from the Tokyo Central Police Station alleged her bank account was linked to organized crime.
• On January 28, a man identifying himself as “Okuma” from the Tokyo Prosecutor’s Office instructed her to withdraw her savings to verify banknote serial numbers.
• The victim withdrew 50 million yen daily, storing the cash at home.
• On February 19, she left 13 million yen in a paper bag outside her home, which was stolen.
• On March 5, another 11 million yen was stolen in a similar manner.
• The victim was told not to inform her family or local police.
• On March 13, after losing contact with “Okuma,” she informed her daughter and reported the case to the police.
• The total amount stolen was 24 million yen.
• Police are investigating the case as a special fraud incident and searching for the suspects.
Summary
A woman in her 70s from Tsu City, Mie, was defrauded of 24 million yen in a sophisticated special fraud scheme. The scammers, posing as officials from the Tokyo Central Police Station and Tokyo Prosecutor’s Office, manipulated the victim into withdrawing her savings under the pretense of verifying banknote serial numbers. Over several weeks, the victim left large sums of cash outside her home, which were stolen. She was instructed not to inform her family or local authorities. The fraud came to light on March 13 when she lost contact with the scammers and confided in her daughter. Police are actively investigating the case and searching for the perpetrators.
