The scammer reached a truly cosmic level when he managed to swindle over 30,000 euros from a gullible woman, posing as a Russian cosmonaut working on the International Space Station.
In particular, the man allegedly told the woman that he loves her and wants to marry her, but in order to return from space and meet her in Japan, he needs money to “pay the landing fee.”
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Between August 19 and September 5, a woman sent over 30,000 euros to an “astronaut” she met on Instagram, according to Newsweek, cited by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
According to the same publication, the man first mentioned that he was working on the International Space Station, and then told her that he wanted to start a new life in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Having collected 4.4 million yen (more than 30,000 euros), the scammer continued to demand more money, and then the victim suspected that it was a scam and informed the police.
“Romantic” scams
Paul Bischoff, Comparitech editor and international media commentator on cybersecurity and privacy, said that “romantic scammers use emotional manipulation to trick the victim into sending money or doing some other illegal activity.” They usually start online, either through a dating app or through social media.
“Scammers often claim that some job prevents them from meeting the victim in person, such as being a soldier, a doctor, or, in this case, an astronaut. They often begin with compliments to gain the victim’s trust. Once she is charmed enough, the scammer is asking for money for some emergency expenses,” he added.
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