Love At First Sight, Then Space Scam: Japanese Grandmother Loses 1 Million

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-09-04 13:14:05 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-04 15:28:26

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An aspiring astronaut in Japan turned out to be an experienced heartbreaker, breaking an Japanese grandmother's heart and bank account with a space scam.

This might be one of the most heartwarming (and heartbreaking) space stories you'll ever hear. An 80-year-old Japanese woman became the victim of a heartless scammer, allegedly an aspiring astronaut, after shelling out 1 million (approximately 5.5 lakh) for oxygen tanks that were supposedly vital for his survival in space, according to Japanese media outlets. Reportedly, the woman became suspicious after the "astronaut" tricked her into buying the oxygen tanks, and reached out to the police.

The scam unravelled when the woman's grandson, who is an actual astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), became involved and revealed that the scammer had merely downloaded a picture of him from the internet. The woman's grandson, who is currently in training for an upcoming mission to the International Space Station, confirmed that the tanks his grandmother bought weren't needed. The police have identified a suspect, an unemployed man in his 30s, and are continuing their investigation.

This wannabe space explorer's story might have turned out differently if, say, a wealthy patron or a space agency had given him a chance. But his grand plans came crashing back to Earth because of a single person, who, out of kindness, wanted to help him realise his dreams. And to add to the irony, it was partly thanks to another astronaut who, unlike this scammer, has actually earned his way to the stars.

Go!