ScamsNOW!
The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime
Scam Victim Commits Crimes For Their Scammers
By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
A Japanese Scam Victim Embezzled Millions From Her Employer!
Why did this romance scam victim embezzle?! Simply, she was under the control of criminals; it’s nothing more complicated than that!
Nisshin’s a 66-year-old woman and scam victim was suspected of embezzling 10 million yen (USD$71,613 dollars) from her employer!
According to the scam victim’s story as it appeared in the local Japanese news:
The Aichi Prefectural Police arrested Keiko Kosaki (66), an unemployed person (having been terminated because of the crime) from Nisshin City, and the victim of a romance scam.
Aichi Prefecture, on suspicion of embezzlement of about 10 million yen in cash from the medical corporation where she worked, on May 21 arrested her for embezzlement.
According to investigators, she admitted to the charges, saying, “I wanted to help a foreign friend I met on a membership exchange site (SNS).”
The man (the scammer who led her into a romance scam,) identified himself as “Paul N. Antonio,” a soldier from England, reportedly sent messages to Kosaki (the scam victim) hinting at marriage and asking for medical treatment for illness and travel to Japan. The man and the suspect are not acquainted in real life, just online, and the prefectural police are investigating the possibility that he may have been involved in an “international romance scam.”
This was definitely an international romance scam. In fact, there have been similar cases in past months and years where scam victims embezzled or stole money from their employers and ended up in prison.
This scam victim can’t talk about it in detail because of confidentiality obligations, and the pending criminal case but the reason why it didn’t come out was because the company understood that it was a romance scam and didn’t acknowledge it publicly out of a desire to shield their reputation.
This time, though, because the amount of the loss is large, and the company has filed a complaint and it is now a criminal case.
Why embezzle the company’s money…?
Accoding to the police “As you may think, the psychology that works there is a strong sense of mission and destiny through strong mind control.”
However, in this case she became the perpetrator not just the scam victim, because she so wanted to help the scammer who claimed to be in desperate need of the money that she did not have without committing a crime herself!
Actions like this are being repeated frequently by scam victims around the globe, so completely manipulated to believe that he or his child got sick and that if she didn’t send money, she couldn’t stand by and not do anythng for the life-threatening emergency and what it would mean for her relationship. Her only option, she believed was the company’s money.
In this situation, the psychological manipulation and control of blaming oneself for not helping a dying person works. But now she will be forced to pay for her actions.
Once the transfers start, they do not stop until the scam victim has run out of money or the control is broken! Often scam victims feel that they have to send more money to get it all back. chasing the money, but this just extends the criminal’s control over the victim.
As she waits for him to come to the Japan and keeps sending money to solve the emergencies that happen preventing him from arriving to Japan.
She said “I guess I felt that I had to do something about it even if my money ran out, and finally I got involved in the company’s money.”
It’s a tragic story, but it’s possible for almost any victim.
It is astounding at times that victims can be so completely controlled that they would steal money to send to their criminals, but we see this kind of behavior almost daily! This turns one tragedy into an even greater one since psychological manipulation does not often work as a defense in these cases.
Because of the actions by the victim they are double victimized – first by the criminal and then by the criminal justice system that does not recognize that they were really powerless to stop! This victim is likely to spend up to a decade in prison because of a scam.
All any of us can do is continue to spread the message about relationship scams in all of their forms and the extraordinary dangers that victims face.
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
SCARS INSTITUTE RESOURCES:
If You Have Been Victimized By A Scam Or Cybercrime
♦ If you are a victim of scams, go to www.ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help
♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
♦ To report criminals, visit https://reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!
♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom
♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com
♦ Scam Survivor’s Stories: www.ScamSurvivorStories.org
♦ For Scam Victim Advocates visit www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org
♦ See more scammer photos on www.ScammerPhotos.com
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Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
