TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Thursday announced the arrest of an organized crime member for heading a fraud ring that sold lottery numbers, reports the Sankei Shimbun (May 7).
Between August of 2013 and April of last year, Yuta Kojima, a 28-year-old former member of the Inagawa-kai, and three other suspects are alleged to have sold what were falsely claimed to be winning numbers prior to drawings in the Loto 6 lottery.
The damage incurred by the victims totaled 110 million yen.
Kojima, who has been charged with fraud, has admitted to the allegations while the other three suspects have denied involvement.
For recruiting victims, Kojima gave instructions to the other members. According to the Nikkei Shimbun (May 7), the victims were duped into withdrawing cash from bank accounts through automated teller machines.
In one case, a 71-year-old male in Hyogo Prefecture made 3.23 million yen in number purchases on four occasions.