Japanese men lose millions in online romance and fake‑job scams

In Hokkaido, a man in his 40s was lured with a promise of a ¥30 million payment for sperm donation. He transferred about ¥3.96 million in eight payments over five days before reporting the fraud. Police noted similar cases in Mie, Hyōgo and other prefectures, with total reported losses of roughly ¥14.98 million.

In Ehime, a man in his 30s responded to a fake side‑job advertisement on social media. Believing he needed to cover "operation‑mistake" fees, he sent approximately ¥13.88 million in eight transfers.

In Ōita, another man in his 30s met a woman claiming to be a designer via a matching app. She enticed him into cryptocurrency investing, leading him to remit about ¥5.51 million after being asked for tax and guarantee fees.

Police classify these incidents as SNS‑type romance or investment fraud, using fabricated professional identities and fee pretexts to extract money. They advise anyone approached for similar payments to contact authorities before sending funds.