HOKKAIDO, Japan. An 80-year-old woman in northern Japan was defrauded of 1 million yen (about $6,700) after falling victim to an online romance scam involving a man who falsely claimed to be an astronaut, police said Tuesday.
According to a Hokkaido police officer, the woman met the scammer on social media in July 2025. The man introduced himself as an astronaut and later told her he was “in space on a spaceship,” under attack, and in urgent need of oxygen.
The scammer persuaded her to transfer money online to help him buy oxygen. Over time, the woman, who lives alone, began developing feelings for him through their continued communication, local media reported.
A Japanese octogenarian was swindled out of thousands of dollars after falling in love online with a self-described astronaut who sought her help to avert a spaceship crisis, police said. https://t.co/0kIYaIj5U2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 2, 2025
Authorities classified the case as a romance scam. Police have urged the public to remain cautious: “If a person you met on social media ever demanded cash from you, please be suspicious of the possibility of scam, and report to police.”
