Fake Astronaut Romance Scam Targets Elderly Japanese Woman
string someone along: to make someone believe something false over a long period of time
A bizarre scam in Japan has again revealed how dangerous and creative online fraud can be. An 80-year-old woman in Hokkaido lost about 1 million yen, or $6,700, to a man who claimed to be an astronaut trapped in space. He told her he was “in space on a spaceship right now” and “in need of oxygen.”
According to police, she began chatting with him on social media in July. Over time, the scammer strung her along with false stories and promises. She thought they were in love, but in reality, he was just a criminal looking for money.
Cases like this are growing worldwide. In the US romance scams cost victims over $1.14 billion in 2023. New technology like AI deepfakes and voice tools are making scams even harder to detect.
Police in Japan warn that if someone online asks you for money, you should treat it as a red flag and report it right away.
Sample sentences
He strung her along for years, pretending he wanted to get married.
The company strung the workers along with promises of a pay raise that never came.
The company strung their investors along with promises of a groundbreaking technology that never materialized.
Origin
This expression comes from the idea of leading a person with a string, pulling them slowly forward.
Read More: