TOKYO — Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested six individuals, including Fukazawa Kazuma and Muroi Masaki, on suspicion of laundering over 5 billion yen (approximately $34 million) linked to a widespread social media investment scam.
According to investigators, the suspects allegedly funneled fraudulently obtained funds through various financial accounts to obscure their origins—violating Japan’s law on organized crimes and the control of crime proceeds.
Authorities say that part of the laundering involved 42 million yen (around $290,000), believed to have been transferred by eight victims last year. Police allege that the suspects were acting on behalf of a scam group that had defrauded people across Japan.
The illicit funds were reportedly converted into cryptocurrency, then routed through foreign exchanges before being funneled back to the original fraud network. This method is often used to make tracking financial transactions more difficult for authorities.
The Tokyo police have not confirmed whether the suspects have confessed to the allegations. Investigations are ongoing as officials work to identify the full scope of the fraud operation and the group behind it.
