Japan Reports Surge in Elderly Romance Scams, Woman Loses €5,787 to Fake Astronaut

An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido, Japan, was defrauded of around one million yen (approximately $6,700) by a scammer posing as an astronaut stranded in space and urgently needing money to buy oxygen. The woman met the man on social media, developed a romantic connection, and was persuaded to send funds to support his fabricated emergency. This incident exemplifies a growing trend of romance scams targeting elderly individuals, with Japan reporting over 3,300 such cases in the first 11 months of 2024, doubling the number from the previous year and resulting in damages exceeding ¥34.6 billion. Authorities have warned the public to be cautious of online acquaintances requesting money and have urged reporting suspicious activities. Similar scams are widespread globally, including in the United States and Europe, where lawmakers have proposed legislation to require dating apps to notify users of fraud risks. Police in Japan have also adopted measures like AI monitoring at ATMs to detect and prevent elder fraud, highlighting the increasing sophistication and audacity of these con artists.