Each week here at Osaka.com we bring you a selection of some of the top stories about Osaka making the local and national news here in Japan. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s funny, but it’s always direct to you, from Osaka.
Police Make Mass Arrests in Social Media Bust
A smartphone app development company chief was among dozens arrest by Osaka Police this week. The arrests come as the latest step in a long-term operation to shut down a series of interconnected online scams.
The social media-driven scam, according to police reports, involved duping victims into thinking they could land high income jobs or business opportunities after completing online courses.
Of course, tuition fees for these online courses were taken upfront from the victims. The fabled high-income opportunities then never materialized. This left victims not only humiliated, but also, in several cases, in severe financial stress.
The prime suspect in all of this is Shingo Matsumura. The 29-year-old head of Osaka App Developer start-up company known as Unity, police believe, was the focal point of a scam that snared victims via the use of high-volume social media accounts.
So far, three vicitms in Osaka have been identified. The women are believed to have been swindled out of a total of 880,000 yen for these “tuition fees”.
Widely disseminated social media marketing from the crime group promised the women “huge increases in followers and engagement, leading to greater income.” Another facet of this insidious marketing scheme was the promise of “increased affiliate marketing opportunities.”
Most successful online content creators these days will tell you that affiliate marketing and sponsorships are the biggest earner, as the social media bubble nears bursting point and views alone will not provide the necessary income.
It is this knowledge and this vulnerability that Matsumura and his co-defendants stand accused of exploiting.
Police Arrest 41, More May Follow
So far, police investigating the scam, which operated out of Osaka’s Kita Ward, have made 41 arrests. However, investigations continue, and police believe the scope of the swindle may be far wider than initially anticipated.
A police source said this week that they are trying to establish if this a truly “anonymous and fluid network” of criminals. They have not, as of yet, ruled out links to organized crime. Police remain non-committal on the exact numbers involved at this time. However, they believe the figure involved could be as high as 650 million yen. They also believe that as many as 2,300 victims may have been ensnared across Japan. Investigations continue and are likely to run for some time yet. Osaka.com will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as and when we can.
Police Crackdown on Illicit Slimming Drug Sales
It’s been a busy week for Osaka’s boys and girls in blue. Not only did Osaka police conduct a major sting on the aforementioned scammers, they also spearheaded a crackdown on a remarkable, yet dangerous slimming drug.
Hailed by some as a “wonder drug” the weight loss injection, known as Mounjaro, is used primarily to treat type 2 diabetes. However, the drug has also proven highly effective as a general weight-loss drug. This is due, in large part to its ability to suppress, and in some cases almost totally negate appetite.
The drug has gained popularity, particularly among younger patients in recent times, as a weight loss drug. However, in principle, the drug should not be issued without a medical consultation. Three people in Osaka were arrested this week for trying to sell the drug privately, via social media channels and without medical consultations.
Police believe this may only be scratching the proverbial surface of the problem however. An investigation by Japanese national newspaper, the Mainichi Shinbun suggested that, whilst prosecutions for private sales of Mounjaro are exceptionally rare, unregulated social media sales of the drug are rife.
And Finally
Coin collectors rubbed their hands with glee this week as the Japan Mint, based in Osaka, unveiled a new series of collectible coins.
The coins were struck to commemorate the Asian Games, due to take place in Nagoya this September. The Para-Asian Games will also take place in the city a few weeks later.
The commemorative coins will retail for 34,800 yen each.
There will be two different coins available to commemorate the games, each showcasing one of the two mascot characters for the event.
Orders are strictly limited to one set of coins per person.
The Japan Mint will begin accepting online pre-orders for the Asian Games Commemorative coins from June 23rd. The Games get underway on September 19th.
That’s all for now, but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
