Tokyo Land Fraud Scam: Uchida and Kaminskas Convicted in Massive Real Estate Fraud
In a striking real estate fraud case in Tokyo, a court has sentenced 71-year-old Mike Uchida and four accomplices to pay 1 billion yen in damages to Sekisui House, a prominent home builder based in Osaka. The case revolves around a fraudulent land sale that misled the company into losing over 5.5 billion yen.
On November 27, the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of Sekisui House, following evidence that Uchida and his co-conspirators, in 2017, impersonated the owners of land and buildings in the Nishigotanda area of Shinagawa Ward. They went on to sign a fake sales contract with Sekisui House, defrauding the company of the large sum.
Uchida, currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for his role, was found to have masterminded the fraud, with a court ruling that he personally requested a seal to forge the identity of the landowner. Furthermore, he had taken 15 million yen from the fraudulently obtained funds. Judge Atsutaka Kamiya stated that Uchida was clearly involved in the scam due to his participation in organizing the impersonation.
The four accomplices also played key roles, including the use of fake documents and the impersonation of landowners. This type of scam, commonly known as “land fraud,” typically involves individuals pretending to own land, selling it to third parties, and pocketing the proceeds.
This case is one of the largest land fraud incidents in Japan’s recent history, involving the defrauding of a well-established company. In an interview with Fuji News Network, Yusuke Chino, a social affairs editor, explained that land fraud is a “classic scam,” as it involves face-to-face deception, making it harder for victims to believe they are being deceived. Chino described fraudsters as highly skilled professionals who exploit the trust of reputable companies.
Alongside Uchida, another significant figure in this fraud scheme was Misao Kaminskas, aged 64, who is currently serving a 10-year prison term for his role. Kaminskas was in charge of negotiating the fraudulent deal with Sekisui House, and orchestrating the fake sale by recruiting accomplices, including those who impersonated the landowner.
The authorities later discovered that Uchida had targeted the property in question six months before the fraud was carried out. His meticulous planning and well-organized team of fraudsters made the scam appear convincing. As a result, the perpetrators were able to deceive one of Japan’s leading construction firms.
Before his arrest, Kaminskas was living a lavish lifestyle, frequently visiting entertainment spots in Tokyo. Video footage reveals him enjoying himself at a Filipino pub, suggesting that he was aware of his impending arrest but continued his extravagant life in the meantime.
The rise in vacant homes across Japan and increasing land prices in urban areas has prompted experts to warn that land fraud schemes may resurface. While Japan’s economy has calmed since the bubble era, such scams remain a serious risk to businesses and individuals. As Yusuke Chino notes, “It’s crucial to avoid being scammed, as recovering the lost money is not always possible.”
