As online scams go, this one was way out there, but the victim fell for it: Claiming to be a Russian astronaut who was currently in space, a man scammed a Japanese woman into sending him money to pay for his return to Earth, promising to marry her once he was back home. Read on to find out what happened in this case, how common romance scams have become in the U.S., and how you can avoid becoming a victim.
Vice reported that the man targeted the 65-year-old unnamed victim on Instagram in June. His account contained various photos of space. He said he worked at the International Space Station, where astronauts have limited cell service. On LINE, a Japanese messaging app, the man told the woman he loved her and ultimately asked her to marry him. He sent her messages such as “I want to start my life in Japan” and “Saying this 1,000 times won’t be enough, but I’ll keep saying it. I love you,” local news outlets reported. One problem: He needed the intergalactic version of money for an Uber so he could return to earth.
The man claimed he had to pay for a rocket to fly to Japan and “landing fees” once he was in the country. The woman paid him about 4.4 million yen (about $30,000) in five installments, from August 19 to September 5, the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun said. But when the man continued to ask for money, the woman became suspicious and reported him to the police. They are…
