CHIBA (TR) – Chiba Prefectural Police have arrested three men for allegedly attempting to defraud a 67-year-old man out of 3.2 million yen by posing as city officials offering post-flood home repairs, reports TBS News (Sep. 3).
The suspects, identified as Riku Matsudo, 23, Kotaro Shiozuka, 22, and Hyo Takiguchi, 22, are accused of preying on the victim in Mobara City late last month, taking advantage of the desperation left behind by record-breaking torrential rains that inundated the region.
During police questioning, all three suspects have chosen to remain silent.
Heavy rainfall
According to the victim, the trio arrived at his home in late August, roughly two weeks after the heavy rainfall.
“They came to my house and said, ‘We were sent by the city hall,'” the victim told reporters.
The men asked to inspect the space beneath the floorboards and examine the circuit breaker. Afterward, they falsely claimed the home was suffering from electrical leakage and a rotting floor. They then demanded 3.2 million yen in cash to conduct immediate repairs.
However, the scammers picked the wrong target. The victim, having previously worked in the construction industry, immediately became suspicious of the exorbitant quote.
Played along
Playing along, the man told the trio, “Understood. I will get the money ready,” prompting them to leave the property.
He then contacted the local city hall, which confirmed they had not dispatched any repair inspectors to his residence. Convinced it was a scam, the man alerted the police, leading to the subsequent arrest of the three men.
The victim expressed his absolute disgust at the men for exploiting a natural disaster for financial gain.
“It’s not something a human being would do,” he said. “There are a lot of people in this area who are genuinely struggling right now.”
