TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested the alleged top figure of a dating app fraud ring accused that targeted disabled men, reports Nippon News Network (Apr. 3).
According to police, Musashi Izawa, 24, and his associate, 25-year-old Ryosuke Hakozaki conspired with female accomplices to lure a man in his 20s to a bar in Shibuya Ward last year after connecting with him on a matchmaking app.
Once at the establishment, the victim was hit with exorbitant charges. The suspects then extorted him under the guise of “damages,” falsely claiming that his payment dispute forced the bar to cancel other reservations.
In total, the group fleeced the man out of approximately 1.45 million yen in cash and gold necklaces, police said.
Upon his arrest, Izawa opted to remain silent. “I haven’t organized my thoughts yet, so I will remain silent,” he told investigators. Hakozaki has also refused to speak during questioning.
People with disabilities
Izawa is believed to be the mastermind behind the syndicate, which has swindled roughly 35 million yen from at least 13 men using similar tactics.
Investigators revealed the ruthless group preyed on vulnerable individuals, targeting the visually impaired and others through specialized dating apps for people with disabilities.
Operating in four distinct factions, the group was strictly managed by Izawa via social media group chats. He spurred his underlings to maximize profits by dangling bonuses and inciting fierce competition among the factions to see who could extort the most money.
With these latest apprehensions, police have now arrested or indicted 19 individuals connected to the extortion network.
Authorities view the syndicate as an anonymous and fluid criminal group — commonly referred to as tokuryu — and are continuing their investigation to uncover the full scope of the operation.
