International Sentiment Scam: Fake space traveler takes Rs 24 lakh from Japanese woman to ‘return to earth’

New Delhi: A Japanese woman was supposedly hoodwinked of around 4.4 million yen (Rs 24.8 lakh) by a man who postured as a Russian cosmonaut working at the Universal Space Station. The conman requested cash from the 65-year-old on the affection of returning to Earth and wedding her, detailed TV Asahi.

The woman, a 65-year-old inhabitant of Shiga prefecture, met the fake space traveler on Instagram in June. His profile had photographs of space to provide an untrue impression that he worked at the space station, the report included.

The pair, as per the report, started trading messages and moved their discussion to Line, a Japanese informing application. Before long, the individual told the woman that he had fallen in love with her and indeed proposed to wed her and moreover claimed that he worked on the International Space Station (ISS) and had restricted get to mobile phones.

The man kept sending content to the lady, saying he adored her and he needed to begin a life with her in Japan.

The conman told her he required cash to return to Earth and wed her. He claimed a landing expense had to be paid for the rocket which may fly him to Japan, the report stated.

The woman supposedly fell for it and started sending him cash. She exchanged an add up to of 4.4 million yen to the individual in five installments between August 19 and September 5, concurring with Yomiuri Shimbun.

It was as it were after the man kept requesting more cash the lady developed suspicions. She recorded a complaint with the police, who are treating the case as an international sentiment scam, the report added.