On September 2, 2025, police in Hokkaido, Japan, reported that an 80-year-old woman lost 1 million yen (about $6,700) in an online romance scam. The woman lives alone on Japan’s northern island. A fraudster posing as a male astronaut on social media tricked her.
The scam began in July when the woman started talking with the scammer online. As their talks continued, she began to trust and like him, local media, including Hokkaido Broadcasting, said, based on police reports.
The scammer said he was an astronaut “in space on a spaceship” facing trouble. He told the woman his ship was “under attack and needed oxygen.” He asked her to send money online to buy oxygen supplies. Trusting him, the woman sent about 1 million yen.
A Japanese octogenarian was swindled out of thousands of dollars after falling in love online with a self-described astronaut who sought her help to avert a spaceship crisis, police said. https://t.co/0kIYaIj5U2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 2, 2025A Hokkaido police officer called this a “romance scam.” In this scam, fraudsters use emotions to trick victims into sending money.
Police warn people to be careful with strangers online. “If someone you meet on social media asks for money, it may be a scam. Contact the police,” the officer said.
Japan has the world’s second-oldest population after Monaco. The World Bank says many scams target older people. Common scams include the “it’s me” trick, where criminals pretend to be family members in trouble. Another scam fools victims into using ATMs to send money for fake insurance or pension refunds.
