Tokyo Police Arrest Three Vietnamese for ¥860 Million Fraud Scheme Impersonating Astronaut; 70-Year-Old Woman Defrauds ¥140 Million

Tokyo police have recently arrested multiple individuals involved in various fraud schemes, including a group of three Vietnamese nationals accused of impersonating an astronaut to defraud victims. This group allegedly collected approximately ¥860 million ($6,000) by convincing victims to send money under the pretext of holding funds until their return to Earth. In a separate case, a 70-year-old woman was arrested for defrauding an elderly woman out of ¥140 million ($1,000) by posing as her nephew's colleague's mother. Additionally, two Vietnamese women were detained for allegedly participating in impersonation during a Japanese language proficiency test. Authorities are also investigating a group that exploited foreign students' insurance cards to claim around ¥20 million ($135,000) in fraudulent reimbursements. These incidents highlight a growing trend of scams targeting vulnerable populations in Japan.