80-Year-Old Japanese Woman Scammed of £5,000 by ‘Astronaut Stranded in Space’

In a bizarre twist of online romance scams, Japanese police say an 80-year-old woman has been duped out of one million yen — roughly £5,000 — after being convinced she was helping an astronaut stranded in outer space.

According to authorities in Hokkaido, northern Japan, the victim began chatting with the fraudster on social media in July. What started as casual exchanges quickly blossomed into a virtual relationship, with the conman spinning an elaborate tale of being a space traveler trapped aboard a mission far from Earth.

The scammer’s story was outlandish: he claimed to be in dire need of financial assistance to buy oxygen so he could survive until “rescue.” Playing on the woman’s emotions and goodwill, he gradually persuaded her to transfer the funds. By the time the fraud was uncovered, the money had already vanished into the abyss of the digital underworld.

Investigators revealed that the woman only came forward after becoming suspicious when the so-called astronaut demanded more money. Police have since classified the case as part of a growing trend of romance scams in Japan, where elderly victims are often targeted through social media and dating platforms.

This incident adds to a long list of cons exploiting loneliness and trust in the digital age. Experts warn that scammers are becoming increasingly creative, weaving stories that mix fantasy with desperation to manipulate vulnerable individuals.

For many, the idea of someone falling for an “astronaut in space” narrative may sound absurd, but police stress that such scams are carefully engineered to build emotional dependency before making financial demands.

As the investigation continues, the case stands as yet another reminder of the evolving dangers of online relationships, where even the most improbable tales can cost unsuspecting victims their life savings.