TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a person for allegedly withdrawing cash from the accounts of a 95-year-old lady whereas claiming to be a water heater contractor.
Such incidents focusing on the aged are on the rise nationwide, police mentioned, reviews TV Asahi (Dec. 10).
According to police, Yuto Arai, a 28-year-old resident of Yokohama City, had visited the house of a 95-year-old lady residing in Tokyo a number of occasions since round April of this 12 months. Each time, he claimed to be a water heater contractor.
After finishing the alternative of her water heater, he’s believed to have subsequently deceived the lady, falsely claiming he was there to gather an excellent cost. He then stole her two money playing cards.
Arai later used the money playing cards to withdraw a complete of roughly 2,555,000 yen from ATMs on 19 events.
Since a number of individuals visited the house on the time, police consider there have been extra perpetrators within the crime.
The incident got here to mild in August after the lady and her household contacted the police.
During questioning, Arai partially denied the fees. He mentioned, “I knew that withdrawing money using my cash card was illegal, but I received the money for the repair work.”
Elderly as targets
Such scams are presently on the rise.
Last month, 5 males had been arrested and indicted in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture for allegedly defrauding a person in his 80s of cash for restore prices by claiming that his scorching water pipes had been clogged.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Consumer Affairs Center, up till 5 years in the past, the variety of consultations relating to water heater alternative issues was round 40 per 12 months.
However, final 12 months the determine exceeded 1,700, roughly thrice the quantity from the earlier 12 months. Approximately 80 p.c of those that consulted had been aged.