An elderly woman living alone in Sapporo, Hokkaido, fell victim to an online romance scam, transferring ¥1 million (HK$53,000) to her "astronaut boyfriend" who claimed to need emergency funds for oxygen and spaceship repairs before realizing she had been deceived after consulting family members.
According to Hokkaido Broadcasting reports, the woman met the man on social media in mid-July and was deceived by his sweet talk, developing affection for him.
The man later claimed his spaceship was under attack and required additional oxygen purchases to sustain life. Despite the absurd reasoning, the woman unquestioningly followed his instructions and purchased electronic currency worth ¥1 million across five convenience stores.
After informing her family, the woman realized she had been scammed and reported to police. Japanese authorities have classified the case as a "romance scam" and reminded the public to remain vigilant, advising people to verify any suspicious transfer requests repeatedly to protect their property and personal safety.
