Key Points:
- We have become aware of an attempted fraud case in which a Japanese national was targeted by a scammer who requested private Japanese language lessons to steal money.
- Please share this information with those around you and take extra care to avoid falling victim to such scams.
Details:
1. Case Overview (1) A Japanese national living in Alabama received an email from a stranger claiming to be an American man. The email requested paid private Japanese lessons for his 17-year-old daughter, as they were planning to move to Japan. Out of kindness, the Japanese national accepted the request. (2) The scammer offered to prepay $480 for the lessons, but at the same time explained that a check for an amount exceeding the lesson fee would arrive from a third party and asked for the difference to be refunded. A check for $3,550 was later sent. (3) When the Japanese national informed the scammer that depositing the check would take time, the scammer requested that $950 be sent immediately, even before depositing the check. However, the Japanese national later learned from the bank that the account linked to the check had been frozen, and thus, no money was sent, avoiding any financial loss.
2. How to Avoid Becoming a Victim (1) If financial transactions arise with someone you met through email or social media and have never met in person, exercise extreme caution. Do not make decisions on your own—consult family, friends, or the police and proceed with care. (2) In the reported case, there were grammatical errors in the English used by the person claiming to be an American, as well as personal stories about their situation, both of which raised suspicions from the start. Additionally, the check was issued by a legitimate company in California. (3) Japanese nationals residing in the United States should also be aware of other scams, such as phone fraud involving individuals posing as bank employees or police officers. Please remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to such schemes.
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