Key Facts
• July 18, 2025: Fraud call received by a 35-year-old policewoman in Hyogo.
• Caller impersonated her “son,” requesting 3 million yen for a settlement.
• Policewoman, part of a special fraud investigation team, feigned belief.
• Disguised as an elderly mother with a wig and mask for the operation.
• Cash handoff location: Near JR Konan Yamate Station, Kobe City.
• Seven officers stationed nearby for support during the operation.
• Suspect: A 40-year-old man from Suita City, Osaka, claiming to be a lawyer’s assistant.
• Policewoman handed over an empty bag labeled as “cash.”
• Suspect attempted to flee but was arrested within meters.
• Charged with attempted fraud; policewoman emphasized the crime’s exploitation of parental emotions.
Summary
A 35-year-old policewoman in Hyogo, Japan, successfully thwarted an attempted fraud on July 18, 2025. The suspect, posing as her son, requested 3 million yen for a settlement. Recognizing the scam, the officer disguised herself as an elderly mother and coordinated a sting operation near JR Konan Yamate Station in Kobe City. With seven colleagues stationed nearby, she handed over an empty bag labeled as cash to the suspect, a 40-year-old man from Osaka. The man attempted to flee but was apprehended shortly after. The officer highlighted the emotional manipulation involved in such crimes and expressed her commitment to reducing victimization.
