100 men swindled

A 27-year-old woman ran a prolific romance scam to trick around 100 men out of 100 million yen ($656,000), according to Japanese police.

After swindling her victims for cash, Ida spent most of the money gambling in online casinos.

Shizuku Ida, 27, reportedly used dating apps and social media to target men, building up a relationship of trust before exploiting them for financial gain. After swindling her victims for cash, Ida spent most of the money gambling in online casinos.

Eventually, after cheating a man from Yamagata Prefecture out of 346,000 yen ($2,270), the scam came to light, culminating in her arrest.

Web of deceit

According to the Tokyo Reporter, Ida confessed the scam to police shortly after being arrested, telling officers: “I lied to make the other person trust me and used the money at internet casinos and to play with hosts.”

Ida, who was unemployed, told her victims that she worked in a hostess bar, an establishment in Japan catering to young men who can pay for conversation with women.

after striking up a conversation, she claimed to have suffered multiple hardships

Idea targeted the men through dating apps and social media. After striking up a conversation, she claimed to have suffered multiple hardships, including having money stolen, being forced to pay off her parents’ debts, and needing money for childcare, even telling one victim she wanted to die.

“I work as a hostess, and the money I get paid is put into my locker,” she told one man. “As well, I put my child in a childcare center affiliated with the club, so I have to pay the manager for it. But when I went to give it to him, I looked in the locker and it was all gone.

“Until last month, I was paying off the debts my parents left behind, so I couldn’t save any money. That’s why I really don’t have any money.”

A relative of Ida’s went on to reveal that she had left her child with her parents before severing all ties with her family.

Romance scams increasing

Ida never met any of the men in person, conversing only through social media and through occasional telephone conversations.

Japanese authorities have warned citizens of the increased prevalence of online romance scams, which have exploded since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, there were 45 such crimes reported in 2018, but this increased to a staggering 1,017 in 2023.

middle-aged men who are comfortable financially are the most vulnerable targets

Kimiaki Nishida, a social psychology expoert at Rissho University, stated that middle-aged men who are comfortable financially are the most vulnerable targets.

“It is easier to tell lies online than when meeting in person,” said Nishida. “Users of these apps and sites need to be aware that there are not only people looking for serious relationships who are using them.”

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