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Tokyo manager of ‘encounter’ matchmaking sites arrested in bankruptcy scam

Yuji Higuchi,
Yuji Higuchi managed more than 20 companies that operated dating sites
TOKYO (TR) – Officers from the special investigation department of the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday arrested the owner of multiple companies operating dating sites for concealing income prior to initiating bankruptcy proceedings, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Nov. 6).

Yuji Higuchi, 47, the president of an advertising firm based in Shibuya Ward, is alleged to have violated the Bankruptcy Act by concealing a total of 234 million yen transferred by customers using his deai-kei “encounter” matchmaking sites between January of 2008 and in October 2009.

As previously reported in April, Higuchi was accused of violating tax laws by not reporting a total of 300 million yen over a three-year period.

Higuchi managed more than 20 companies. His business plan required that sakura, or fake, female users engage in communication with males registered to the various sites. These faked personalities would then request that male users exchange mails or engage in live-chat sessions in order to generate income.