Key Facts
• Late last month, a man posing as ‘Igarashi’ scammed a woman in her 60s.
• The victim, from Kagoshima Prefecture, believed she would receive $500,000 in cryptocurrency.
• The scammer requested a $30 fee to assist with the transfer process.
• The woman opened a cryptocurrency account and sent $1 million in multiple transactions.
• The promised $500,000 was never transferred, and the victim realized it was a scam.
• Kagoshima police confirmed 143 phone scam cases from January to June 2025, double last year.
• Total losses from scams in the same period reached $4.05 million, quadrupling from $990,000 in 2024.
• Police urge caution and recommend consulting family or authorities if suspicious requests arise.
Summary
A woman in her 60s from Kagoshima Prefecture was scammed out of $1 million in cryptocurrency by a man posing as ‘Igarashi.’ The scam began with a phone call claiming she was entitled to $500,000 in cryptocurrency, requiring a $30 fee for assistance. Trusting the scammer, she opened a cryptocurrency account and transferred funds in multiple transactions. When the promised amount was not received, she reported the incident to the police. Kagoshima police have noted a significant rise in phone scams, with 143 cases and $4.05 million in losses reported in the first half of 2025. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and consult with family or police if approached with suspicious requests.
