Chinese Man, 24, Defrauded of ¥6.3 Million by Scammers Posing as Chinese Consulate, Police Threatening "Deportation" in Shiga
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Shiga Prefectural Police's Otsu Station disclosed on September 5, 2026 that a Chinese national, 24, living in Kusatsu City, had fallen victim to a special fraud scheme, losing a total of roughly 6.3 million yen. According to the Kyoto Shimbun, between August 15 and 25, 2026, the man received phone calls from people posing as staff of the Chinese consulate and police officers, who told him his bank account was linked to a crime and that he was scheduled to be deported, then demanded he transfer money to a designated account as a "guarantee deposit."
The man transferred money to the designated account five times, losing a total of roughly 6.3 million yen. Special fraud schemes that target Chinese nationals living in Japan by impersonating public institutions or investigative authorities to instill fear have been reported in various parts of the country, and Otsu Station is investigating the details of the case.
Current status: The identity of the fraud group and whether similar damage has spread to other victims remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.