The Iwaki-chuo Police arrested a Chinese national on suspicion of fraud at around 9am on May 21 for swindling a woman in her 70’s in Iwaki City, Fukushima out of 10.1 million yen in cash by impersonating a famous journalist Akira Ikegami on social media. This is the first time suspects have been caught in a social media investment scam in the prefecture.
According to the police, the suspect, together with an accomplice, exchanged messages with the woman through the messaging app, LINE under the name of the journalist, Akira Ikegami between around March 4 and April 8, and offered her investment advice such as “you can make a profit if you invest in crude oil.” Thereafter, the suspect, claiming to be a currency dealer, is suspected of receiving cash directly from the woman on two occasions, on April 4 and April 8.
While watching a video on YouTube, the woman was led to a fake investment website from an advertisement, from which she was directed to the message app, where she received a message about investments. After handing over the cash, she became suspicious when she couldn’t get in touch with him, and consulted the police on May 12.
The suspect, Wen, admitted to receiving the money from the woman when questioned by police, but denied the allegations, saying he only received the money.
The police are investigating with the assistance of the Organized Crime Unit of the Prefectural Police Headquarters and the Tokyo PD’s Special Fraud Coalition Investigation Unit. Investigations are continuing with the belief that there may be accomplices. The suspect was arrested at his home in Tokyo and transferred to the police at around 1:50pm.
