A 65-year-old Japanese woman has started a romantic relationship with a supposed 65-year-old “Russian cosmonaut”. He extorted no less than 31,000 euros from him.
Stars in her eyes, before reality shakes her up… A 65-year-old Japanese woman thought she was having the perfect romance with a Russian cosmonaut before being extorted nearly 31,000 euros.
The story is told by our colleagues from The Independent, citing local Japanese television by the name of Asahi. The latter claim that the sexagenarian received a message through Instagram: the individual introduces himself to her as a Russian cosmonaut who works on board the International Space Station (ISS). The Japanese woman believes all the more in the sincerity of her interlocutor as he continues to post photos of the ISS on her account, as if to authenticate her statements.
Thousands of euros to acquire… a rocket
The conversation between the “cosmonaut” and the sixty-year-old then continued through the Japanese messaging “Line”. The “Russian” very quickly gains the trust of his interlocutor and takes the plunge by asking her to marry him. The scammer cradles her daily with pretty phrases: “I want to start a life with you in Japan”, he promises, constantly evoking his wish to return to Earth, and to resume: “Saying it 1,000 times will not be enough, but I’ll keep saying it. I love you.”
Very quickly, the conversation takes another turn. The “cosmonaut” asks him for money, crazy sums, to be able to return to Earth. Frankly, he evokes the wish to acquire… a rocket, to be able to go to Japan. The sexagenarian falls into the trap and makes no less than five transfers, for a total of 4.4 million yen (31,000 euros). The beneficiary is insatiable, and yet keeps asking her for more and more: the Japanese woman ends up having some doubts and contacts the authorities.
The Japanese police end up opening an investigation. Authorities say the scammer impersonated a Russian cosmonaut whose first flight to the ISS dates back to 2021.
