The 56-year-old man, identified as Hirokazu Kinoshita, has been arrested for an alleged marriage scam where he is suspected to have deceived multiple women out of a total of over 100 million yen. Kinoshita is said to have met these women on a dating app.
According to the police, Kinoshita, who is a real estate company president, used the name “Koji” to register on multiple dating apps. He initiated relationships with two women in their 50’s, starting with the intention of marriage. He showcased a bank book with a balance of about 20 million yen and claimed to own a luxury sports car and Lamborghini, to present an image of wealth.
Soon after beginning these relationships, Kinoshita met the parents of these women, expressing a desire to marry and proposing to view apartments together. He even suggested buying an apartment to live in after marriage. He further requested money from these women, using various excuses like, “I don’t have money at the moment; I need you to provide it,” and implied that those who paid the deposit quickly would be prioritized. As a result, the women entrusted Kinoshita with cash ranging from 4 to 5 million yen each.
However, the money entrusted to him was not used for purchasing the apartment, and when the women expressed their wish to meet him, Kinoshita’s attitude changed. He cited reasons such as having a brain illness, being busy, and accused them of being selfish, distancing himself from them. Even when the women requested the return of their money, Kinoshita did not comply.
During the investigation, Kinoshita stated that “some aspects are not true,” but according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, he is suspected to have deceived more than five women using similar tactics, accumulating a total of over 100 million yen.
An attorney specialized in “marriage fraud” advises people to be cautious and seek advice from others when the topic of money comes up, especially in situations where money must be paid to the other party. If something feels unnatural or causes discomfort, it is important to discuss it with someone else to make a more rational judgment.
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