FUKUOKA, Sep 06 (News On Japan) –
A self-proclaimed fortune-teller has been arrested on suspicion of fraud after luring individuals into false funding schemes, together with a case through which she allegedly swindled 10 million yen from a lady she befriended as a fellow kindergarten mom.
Police arrested Noriko Tasai, 51, on expenses of defrauding a 52-year-old acquaintance in Fukuoka City in 2018. Investigators allege Tasai advised the girl that inserting crystals into constructing foundations would improve feng shui and improve property worth, promising dividends and the return of principal funding.
FNN had interviewed the sufferer and her household in May 2025. The sufferer stated many acquaintances praised Tasai, saying issues like, “When I went to her for fortune-telling, good things happened.” She had met Tasai by her baby’s kindergarten and was provided free fortune-telling classes and recommendation.
After two years of understanding one another, Tasai allegedly advised her, “Top-level people always use astrology, the Four Pillars of Destiny, and feng shui. If you invest even hundreds of thousands of yen, your fortune will improve.” Trusting Tasai, the girl believed the scheme. Her husband defined, “Because it was a family friendship, we never thought she would lie.”
Tasai’s luxurious way of life additional strengthened their belief. According to the girl, she would enter luxurious model shops and instantly say, “I’ll take this, I’ll take this,” in a fashion in comparison with “Michael Jackson’s old shopping style.”
Ultimately, the sufferer handed over greater than 100 million yen to Tasai.
In questioning, Tasai admitted receiving the cash however denied wrongdoing, saying, “I didn’t intend to lie.”
Police suspect Tasai defrauded about 70 individuals of a mixed 2 billion yen by related schemes and are persevering with to query different victims as they work to uncover the total scope of the case.
Source: FNN