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Philippine authorities nab another Japanese fraud suspect

PHILIPPINES (TR) – Authorities here have apprehended another male Japanese national who is suspected member of the so-called “Luffy” fraud ring.

The arrest of Takashi Sasaki, 43, is second made by authorities in the capital Manila this month, reports TBS News (Jan. 29).

On Tuesday, Philippine authorities announced that they had arrested Japanese suspect Sasaki at a house in Laguna province near Manila.

Takashi Sasaki (X)

The Luffy group is named after the popular manga for boys. It specializes in tokushu sagi, which is a type of fraud carried out on the telephone by a caller impersonating an authority figure or a victim’s relative.

According to Philippine authorities, an arrest warrant had been issued in Japan for Sasaki on suspicion of making phone calls pretending to be a police officer and stealing cash cards and other items from elderly victims.

Eight days before, authorities announced the apprehension of Yuhei Tsukuda, 28, in Pampanga province. He is also a suspected member of Luffy.

Sasaki is expected to be deported to Japan at some point in the future.