KYODO NEWS
Japanese police arrested two men, Shuichi Ejiri, 51, and Yuki Takeda, 32, for allegedly swindling a 47-year-old woman out of 36.5 million yen (approximately $242,000) under the false pretense of marriage. Investigators suspect that the victim lost over 100 million yen in total due to their deceit.
Ejiri, who claimed to run a business earning 50 million yen annually, met the victim through a matchmaking app in December of the previous year. In March, he and Takeda, who posed as his secretary, convinced her they needed funds to pay a contractor, ultimately defrauding her of 36.5 million yen.
Ejiri reportedly confessed to the police that he defrauded the woman to settle debts. The case emerged after the victim sought help from law enforcement in late May. Police have received similar complaints about the two men from other individuals, indicating a broader pattern of alleged fraud.
