An 80-year-old woman from Japan’s Hokkaido island lost her entire life savings to a scammer who posed as an astronaut in distress. Authorities said the fraudster convinced the pensioner that he was stranded in space aboard a besieged spacecraft and needed money to buy oxygen.
The scam began in July after the two connected on a social media app. The impostor gradually gained the woman’s trust before claiming his life depended on her financial help. Believing the story, she transferred about $6,700.
Police later confirmed it was a classic romance scam targeting vulnerable elderly individuals. Similar cons have been reported across the globe, including the United States.