Fraud cases continue to be a significant problem in Japan’s Fukui prefecture, where a man in his 30s, an employee of a local company, lost 5.68 million yen, the equivalent of about R$190,000, after being scammed by a group posing as police and prosecutors in May. He shared his experience, lamenting that once criminals are believed, it is almost impossible to escape the cycle of lies, highlighting the complexity of the tactics employed by scammers.
How the fraud developed step by step
The methods used in this specific type of scam reveal a detailed script. The sequence of events began on May 12, when the man received a call from someone who identified himself as an employee of a credit card company, alerting him to alleged outstanding usage fees. Upon expressing ignorance of the debt, the impostor instructed him to contact the police so they could arrange a “waiver of the debtor’s rights.”
Isolation and psychological manipulation tactics used by scammers
Upon calling the number provided, the man was answered by an individual who introduced himself as officer “Kinoshita” from the Nagano Prefectural Police. To build credibility, the alleged agent sent images of a police identification card and other documents. The victim was then instructed to isolate himself, spending days in hotels and internet cafes until May 14, distancing himself from any contact that could reveal the deception.
Feeling isolated and unable to share the situation with his family, the man was contacted again by Kinoshita, who accused him of having his cell phone, allegedly acquired with his credit card, involved in a case of fraud. A second voice joined the conversation, declaring the need to “catch the suspect”, increasing the victim’s uneasiness and fear.
The manipulation escalated with Kinoshita threatening the man’s arrest in Nagano if he did not cooperate with the “investigation”. To intensify pressure and control, the scammer stated that, instead of being detained, he would be “monitored by AI (artificial intelligence)”, requiring that a video call remain active and connected uninterruptedly. This advanced tactic, using the threat of surveillance technology, illustrates how fraudsters adapt their methods to exploit fear of the unknown and technological dependence, ensuring that the victim remains under constant psychological pressure.