TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 34-year-old man believed to be the ringleader of a telephone fraud network that allegedly swindled approximately 2.2 billion yen from some 500 victims across four prefectures.
Investigators are now examining whether a portion of the proceeds was channeled to the Kudo-kai, a criminal syndicate, reports Fuji News Network (Nov. 4).
Shigeto Sasaki was taken into custody on suspicion of impersonating a municipal government official in March 2025, using the ruse to trick a woman living in Tokyo into handing over her cash card. He then allegedly withdrew approximately 5.6 million yen from her account.
The fraud network has already seen 39 people arrested in connection with its operations, which stretched across four prefectures and left 500 victims in its wake, police said.
Sasaki is believed to have sat at the top of the criminal hierarchy, according to police. Also among those arrested is Hironori Takahashi, 40, identified as a Kudo-kai associate.
Tokyo police said they are investigating the possibility that a share of the stolen funds was passed on to the designated gang.
