A Japanese elderly woman was scammed by an online stranger posing as an astronaut and left thousands of dollars short after falling for a romantic tale. Police say the scammer lured her into believing he was in space, battling a life-or-death situation, and needed her financial help.
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The Case Of The Woman Scammed By Online Stranger Posing As An Astronaut
According to reports, the 80-year-old woman from Hokkaido Island met the scammer in July on social media. The man introduced himself as an astronaut and quickly built a bond with her. During their conversations, he reportedly told her he was “in space on a spaceship right now” and painted a dramatic story about being under attack and running out of oxygen. The elaborate setup made her feel like she was part of something bigger, something urgent.
The scammer convinced her to send money to “help buy oxygen online.” Police revealed she transferred about 1 million yen, which is roughly $6,700. The emotional manipulation worked because the woman believed she had fallen in love with him. CBS News noted that she lived alone, which made her more vulnerable to the attention and connection the scammer provided.
How The Online Astronaut Scam Unfolded
Once the scammer earned her trust, the conversations reportedly grew more intense. He claimed his spaceship was losing oxygen. He even said they were under attack. By creating a sense of danger and urgency, he pushed her to act fast without questioning the logic. Scammers know when people are emotional, they don’t think critically. That’s exactly what happened here.
Officials said the woman was heartbroken when she realized the entire thing was fake. She thought she was supporting someone she cared about, when in reality she was funding a scammer’s pockets. The situation is painful because not only did she lose her money, but she also lost the sense of connection she thought was real.
Police are now warning the public about these kinds of online traps. They advise that if anyone online asks for money—no matter how convincing the story sounds—you should report it immediately. Loneliness and hope can blind even the smartest people, so protection means questioning everything and everyone.