A man in his 30s from Nagoya was scammed out of approximately 62 million yen in cash after being approached with a fake investment story by someone he met on social media.

According to police, the man, a company executive in his 30s from Naka Ward, Nagoya, accessed a URL about securities investment sent to a LINE group in March this year and was directed to an investment exchange group by a person claiming to be a Japanese woman.

Later, a person posing as a Japanese male customer support representative of a securities company, among others, approached him with investment opportunities. Seeing profits displayed on the downloaded investment app, the man transferred a total of 62.27 million yen in cash to a designated account in 15 transactions before realizing he had been defrauded.

The scam was uncovered when the man grew suspicious after continued demands for money and consulted an acquaintance and a lawyer.

In a separate case, a woman in her 40s from Showa Ward was deceived into transferring cryptocurrency worth approximately 23.65 million yen after being approached with a fake investment story by someone she met on social media.

Authorities advise against easily trusting individuals contacted solely through social media and urge caution, suggesting skepticism toward unsolicited investment offers to avoid potential scams.

Nagoya

Nagoya is a major city in Japan’s Chubu region, known for its industrial heritage and vibrant culture. It is home to historic sites like Nagoya Castle, built in 1612 by the Tokugawa shogunate, and the Atsuta Shrine, one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. Today, Nagoya is a hub for automotive manufacturing, with companies like Toyota headquartered nearby, blending modernity with tradition.

Naka Ward

Naka Ward is a central district in Yokohama, Japan, known for its vibrant cultural and commercial scene. It is home to landmarks like the Yokohama Chinatown, the largest in Japan, and the historic Yamate area, which features Western-style houses from the Meiji era. The ward blends modern urban life with rich history, reflecting Yokohama’s role as a key international port city since the late 19th century.

LINE

LINE is a popular Japanese messaging app developed by LINE Corporation, launched in 2011 after the Tōhoku earthquake to provide a reliable communication tool. It quickly gained global popularity for its free messaging, voice calls, stickers, and social features like Timeline and LINE Games. Today, it remains a dominant communication platform in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and other regions, blending technology with cultural trends like character branding (e.g., Brown & Cony).

Showa Ward

Showa Ward (昭和区, Shōwa-ku) is one of the 16 wards of Nagoya, Japan, established in 1937 during the Showa era. It is known for its mix of residential areas, educational institutions like Aichi University, and cultural sites such as the Showa Museum of Art. The ward also features lush green spaces like Tsuruma Park, one of Nagoya’s oldest public parks, offering a blend of urban life and historical charm.