CHIBA (TR) – Police have arrested former professional tennis player and French Open champion Rika Hiraki on suspicion of fraud in connection with a social media scam, reports NHK (July 23).
Hiraki, a 54-year-old office worker residing in Shiroi City, denies the allegations. She reportedly told investigators, “I have no memory of this.”
According to the Kochi Prefectural Police, Hiraki is accused of conspiring with an unidentified individual four years ago to defraud a Kagoshima woman, then in her 40s, out of 300,000 yen.
Police allege the victim was targeted on social media by a scammer posing as a male orthopedic surgeon working at a hospital in Paris. The scammer tricked the woman by claiming, “My luggage has been stopped at customs, and I need money for a certificate fee.”
Believing the story, the victim wired 300,000 yen into a bank account registered under Hiraki’s name.
Kochi police uncovered the transaction while investigating a separate fraud ring. Investigators traced the funds, discovering that roughly 270,000 yen was funneled through a cryptocurrency account also registered to the former tennis star before being moved elsewhere. Additionally, security camera footage captured Hiraki withdrawing cash from her bank account.
Police are continuing to investigate the full extent of the scam network.
Hiraki is a prominent figure in Japanese sports history, having won the mixed doubles title at the French Open in 1997.
