Key Facts
• On September 12, Okinawa Police reported a fraudulent billing scam.
• A woman in her 40s from southern Okinawa lost approximately $240,000.
• The scam began in late August via an online ad about side jobs.
• The victim was directed to a social media app offering rewards for simple tasks.
• She was instructed to send screenshots after liking videos.
• A specialized app falsely displayed earned rewards.
• Scammers claimed a ‘data error’ froze the app and demanded payments.
• The victim transferred money six times to unfreeze the app.
Summary
A woman in her 40s from southern Okinawa fell victim to a fraudulent billing scam, losing approximately $240,000. The scam began in late August when she accessed an online advertisement about side jobs. She was directed to a social media app that promised rewards for simple tasks, such as liking videos and sending screenshots. A specialized app falsely displayed earned rewards, and scammers later claimed a ‘data error’ had frozen the app. Under the pretense of unfreezing it, they demanded payments, leading the victim to transfer money six times. Okinawa Police reported the incident on September 12, highlighting the growing threat of such scams.
