Organized crime suspected in remittance fraud case

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metrpolitan Police on February 14 arrested two suspects on suspicion of swindling an elderly woman in a bank account remittance scam in December of 2011, reports Sankei Shimbun (Feb. 14).

Officers took Shinya Sato, 24, and a 20-year-old male office worker, who was 19 at the time of the alleged crime, into custody for allegedly swindling a 74-year-old woman living in Saitama Prefecture out of five million yen. A caller impersonating her eldest son said he had lost a contract in the back of a taxi and needed money.

Sato has reportedly denied the allegations. “My lawyer will offer a response,” he is quoted by police.

Officers believe the pair are part of a fraud ring comprising six people that have utilized similar methods to collect a total of 35 million yen. Investigators are also examining possible ties to organized crime.