bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Fran Lu

An elderly Japanese woman who was conned out of 50 million yen (US$345,000) by a gang of fraudsters ended up joining the racketeers who fleeced her because they treated her “kindly”.
On May 16, police in Fukuoka city, southwestern Japan, said that they had arrested 72-year-old Kumi Kawauchiyama on suspicion of fraud.
The police said she helped a scam gang to defraud 12 million yen out of an 85-year-old woman.
The unidentified victim received a phone call from a member of the gang posing as a police officer who told her she needed to deposit all her assets into a specified account to prove her innocence.

The scammers further instructed her to go to the bank with Kawauchiyama, and tell her bank that Kawauchiyama was her daughter and the owner of the account.
Staff at the bank were suspicious of the transfer and called the police.
When the police arrived, Kawauchiyama told them that she was the victim’s daughter.
The victim also tearfully pleaded with the police to “not tell my son about this” and insisted that Kawauchiyama was her secret daughter.
She said she was transferring the money “as compensation for all the trouble I have caused her,” reported the Japanese media outlet Television Nishinippon.

Kawauchiyama also showed her identity card and let the police photograph it.
To the shock of many people on social media, the police did not stop the scam from happening, and let the victim transfer the money.
It was not until a few days later that they suspected Kawauchiyama’s account was used in other scam cases. They arrested her in a hotel on May 12.
The suspect is unemployed with no fixed address.
She reportedly admitted to the fraud charges.
She also revealed that she lost about 50 million yen worth of cash and gold to scammers in March.
Then, in early April, a man posing as an official at Tokyo Public Prosecutors’ Office called her and invited her to join them.

Kawauchiyama said she realised it was a scam, but said: “I talked to the leaders every day. They treated me kindly, so I began to like them,” she confessed.
The police pledged to improve their anti-scam work in future.
“This is really sad. She should have known the pain of being defrauded more than anyone, but she joined the scammers. Maybe she was just too lonely,” said one online observer.
“I wonder if the scammers told her she can get her money back if she helps them. The police should recognise this possibility and take some measures to prevent more victims from becoming perpetrators,” another person warned.


Russian fitness coach gains 25kg in junk food marathon to sell weight loss courses, dies at 30

Malaysian man stranded by floods in Thailand with ‘colleagues’ exposed holidaying with lover

Japan idol posts belly photo, invites fans to retouch for more flattering look, sparks debate

Malaysians lament local VFX star making viral Singapore tourism video

Viral stories

Elderly Japanese woman loses US$345,000 to scammers, joins gang as they are ‘kind’ to her

An elderly Japanese woman who lost US$345,000 to fraudsters decided join the gang who fleeced her because they had been “kind” to her. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Members of the fraud gang posed as police officers and called their victims to make them part with their assets. Photo: QQ.com

Members of the bank’s staff became suspicious about a money transfer and called the police. Photo: Shutterstock 

The scam gang also posed as public prosecutors during phone calls to victims. Photo: Shutterstock 

Meet China PhD student Pang Zhongwang who rises from waste collector to cultural ambassador

From an impoverished family, Pang Zhongwang went from collecting rubbish to help with family expenses to becoming a PhD student and now a cultural ambassador for his hometown. Photo: SCMP composite/Zhihu/Sohu

While domestic media portrayed Pang as a struggling student, he rejected financial aid offers from entrepreneurs. Photo: Baidu

Before the national college entrance exam, Pang searched for recyclables to earn income to help support his family and still managed to achieve high scores, gaining admission to Tsinghua University. Photo: Shutterstock

His late mother, above, was his greatest influence through her teachings that he should look forward and not linger on sadness. Photo: Baidu

‘Shameless’ China couple arrested for printing fake banknotes, using them at local markets

A husband and wife in China have been arrested for printing counterfeit banknotes and passing them off to traders at local markets. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/CCTV

The police seized a printer, paper cutters, and ink when they raided the couple’s home. Photo: CCTV

Investigators also discovered piles of genuine banknotes when they searched the premises. Photo: CCTV

The scammers targeted local markets and disguised themselves in a bid to avoid detection. Photo: CCTV

China doctor tells lethargic, anaemic women to look at muscular men for mood boost

A doctor in China has suggested that women who suffer from lethargy or blood deficiencies should look at muscular men to boost their mood. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Gynaecologist He Zhenye offers advice on women’s health on social media, where he has more than 133,000 followers. Photo: 163.com

He says images like the one above can help women who suffer from insomnia and fatigue from overwork. Photo: 163.com

Women online have given the gynaecologist’s muscular men advice the thumbs up. Photo: Shutterstock

Chinese ambulance uses siren to clear way for tourists, sparks public outrage

A private ambulance driver in China who illegitimately used his flashing lights and siren to clear the way on a tourist highway has sparked public outrage. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The driver of the ambulance claimed only the police could stop him from using his flashing lights and siren. Photo: 163.com

Police arrived at the scene, warned the emergency vehicle’s driver, and issued him with a fine. Photo: 163.com

On the day of the incident, the driving of vehicles on the remote road was restricted due to difficult conditions. Photo: 163.com

Chinese village at centre of illegal surrogacy probe, exploiting deaf-mute, disabled women

A village in China is at the centre of an illegal surrogacy investigation in which some of the proxy mothers involved were deaf-mute or disabled. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu

The sophisticated racket included a fully equipped operating theatre and a private nurse. Photo: Baidu

The set-up also included a specialised chair on which surrogacy procedures were carried out. Photo: Baidu

The surrogate mothers, some of whom were disabled, were paid tens of thousands of US dollars for their part in the illegal operation. Photo: Baidu

News

People & Culture

Fleeced 72-year-old develops Stockholm syndrome after being conned by gang, decides to help fraudsters commit more crime


Fleeced 72-year-old develops Stockholm syndrome after being conned by gang, decides to help fraudsters commit more crime.


Japan

Ageing society

Scams and swindles