Man Deceived Hundreds of Men in a Romance Scam, Frittered Away Funds at Online Gambling Platforms
In the digital age, Japan has been experiencing a significant increase in online scams, with romance scams becoming increasingly prevalent. This surge can be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic period, when online interactions skyrocketed.
Recently, a 27-year-old woman named Shizuku Ida was arrested for running a romance scam that swindled a man from Yamagata Prefecture out of 346,000 yen ($2,270). Ida claimed to have worked as a hostess in a Japanese establishment where young men pay for conversation with women. However, her earnings were stored in a locker, which was later found empty.
Ida confessed to the scam, admitting that she lied to her victims to gain their trust and used the money for gambling and other expenses. She also mentioned that she had been paying off her parents' debts until recently.
The number of online romance scams in Japan has significantly increased since the pandemic, with 1,017 cases reported in 2023 compared to 45 in 2018. Ida was not alone in her actions, as Japan's heightened vulnerability to online scams, facilitated by advanced AI-generated natural language phishing, has been evident. Over 80% of global scam emails in May 2025 targeted Japanese recipients.
Kimiaki Nishida, a social psychology expert at Rissho University, stated that it is easier to tell lies online than in person. Middle-aged men who are financially comfortable are the most vulnerable targets for these scams.
Users of dating apps and social media need to be aware that there are not only people looking for serious relationships who are using them. Ida used these platforms to build trust with her victims before exploiting them financially.
The complexity and sophistication of these scams have grown, making them harder to detect for victims. Scammers often create fake identities and narratives online (catfishing), further blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
The rise in online scams, including romance scams, underscores the need for increased awareness and vigilance among internet users, particularly vulnerable populations who rely heavily on digital social interactions. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so too must our strategies for protecting ourselves against these insidious threats.
In the midst of increased online scams, a woman named Shizuku Ida, who was arrested for running a romance scam, admitted to using the money for casino games and other expenses, highlighting a link between online scams and casino-gambling. The rise in such scams, especially in the digital age, has made general news headlines, often falling under the category of crime and justice.
Online dating apps and social media platforms have become breeding grounds for these scams, with scammers creating fake identities to catfish victims and gain their trust before exploiting them financially, thus underlining the importance of being cautious when engaging in casino-and-gambling or any financial transactions online.
