SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.

RocketNews24 Japanese

Featured

“You’re taking peeping photos, aren’t you?” Smartphone extortion scam hits hard in Shinjuku

smart phone scam 01

Many would agree that smartphones are the easiest and most convenient way to stay entertained no matter where you go, provided there’s reception. Although, they do distract us from what’s happening in the immediate vicinity. Texting and checking apps while walking through the streets of a busy city can lead to collisions with people or signposts, or even traffic if one isn’t careful! Now, a recent string of scams in Tokyo shows that the distractedness we experience when on our phones also make us a target.

Approximately two months ago, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was contacted after a 36-year-old businessman fell victim to extortion in the area around Shinjuku Station. The man was innocently walking through the station’s passages while on his smartphone when a second man suddenly approached him, accusing the phone user of taking photographs up girls’ skirts. According to reports, the victim is guilty of no such deed and was in fact on his phone’s terminal screen. Nevertheless, he was blackmailed for 130,000 yen (US$1,324). Take note that in Japan’s cash-based society, carrying such a large sum of money in one’s wallet is not unheard of.

Last month, the same thing happened again to another 26-year-old businessman passing through the hallways of JR Shinjuku Station. The young man was accused of taking inappropriate photos while innocently navigating the terminal screen of his cell phone and this time asked to pay 500,000 yen (US$5,093)!

Apparently, one of the accused men did hand over his money in spite of his innocence. He had this to say about the incident: “I was so absorbed in my smartphone that I was unable to make sense of the situation when this man suddenly called out to me. In my poor judgment, I paid him.”

In the wake of these scams, two 28-year-old men have been arrested under suspected extortion, hopefully putting an end to this string of scams. Still, let this be a reminder to all of us to be extra careful when walking around using our smartphones. The police department in particular urges people to stay alert while moving about, for distraction can lead to disaster if circumstances prove unlucky.

Source: NHK News Web via Jin115 (Japanese)
Image: Beth Keller Small Business

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related Stories

Trackbacks

  1. There are no trackbacks yet.
  2. Trackback URL

Trending Today

  1. Making the latest social media snack sensation in Japan, Dot Butter
  2. Can hanging a handy fan on your crotch keep you cool in the Tokyo summer? SN24 investigates
  3. 7-Eleven Japan’s Ramen Machine is a viral hit, but there’s one glaring problem
  4. The confusing enjoyment of our day-trip bus tour from downtown Tokyo to Yamanashi [Photos]
  5. Japan’s new delicious dark horse sweet potato dessert drink is waiting at a beef bowl chain
  6. Burger King goes viral in Japan for opening new store in a Japanese-style building
  7. 7-Eleven Japan releases a Kebab Sandwich… but does it really taste like a street-stall kebab?
  8. Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
  9. Hot pot in cans coming to Japanese vending machines this fall
  10. Does washing rice in this Japanese pouch really make it more delicious?

© SoraNews24 —Japan News— / SOCIO CORPORATION

Powered by WordPress VIP

%d