FUKUOKA (TR) – Fukuoka Prefectural Police have referred a 52-year-old female fortuneteller and a married couple to prosecutors for allegedly soliciting unregistered investments as part of a massive scam that collected an estimated 2.7 billion yen, reports RKB Mainichi Broadcasting (Sep. 1).
Noriko Tasai, a fortuneteller residing in Iizuka City, and a couple in their 50s from Fukuoka City’s Jonan Ward, are accused of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.
Between 2021 and 2023, the trio allegedly solicited real estate investments from three women in their 40s and 50s in Fukuoka Prefecture without obtaining the required government registration.
Police have not disclosed whether the suspects admit to the allegations.
Acted as recruiters
Tasai is already facing indictment on separate charges of fraud for pitching bogus investment stories to acquaintances and swindling them out of cash.
According to investigators, the total damages in the string of scams masterminded by Tasai amount to a staggering 2.7 billion yen. The number of victims totals around 90.
The couple in their 50s is believed to have acted as recruiters, collecting approximately 600 million yen from victims before handing the funds over to Tasai.
“Doing a good thing”
In an interview with local media last year, the husband of the accused couple admitted to gathering the funds.
“At first, I thought I was doing a good thing, but I feel truly sorry for getting people involved in this,” he said at the time. “I don’t know what form it will take, but I intend to take responsibility in my own way.”
On the 1st, police announced the conclusion of their investigation after sending additional charges of fraud and embezzlement against Tasai to prosecutors.
