Tokyo police have arrested two suspects over an alleged Cambodia-linked crypto fraud in which a woman in her 40s was tricked into transferring cryptocurrency worth 81 million yen — roughly $515,000 at the reported conversion rate. Investigators believe the pair were part of an overseas fraud network that posed as Japanese police officers to steal from Japanese victims, with estimated total losses of around 240 million yen, or nearly $1.5 million.

Two Arrested in Fake Police Officer Case

Saki Okayama, 31, and Mitsuki Minamisawa, 38, were taken into custody by Tokyo police. Both are believed to have been involved in fake police officer fraud, a scheme in which callers impersonate law enforcement officials. Telephone impersonation fraud targeting Japanese residents is a long-documented crime category, and Japanese investigators have repeatedly identified overseas call centers as operating bases for such schemes.

FNN reported on September 25 that police arrested Okayama and Minamisawa as part of an investigation into fake police fraud.

How the Scam Unfolded

According to investigators, the suspects called a woman in her 40s and posed as representatives of Japanese police and prosecutors. The callers told her that her bank card had been found in connection with a money-laundering case, and claimed authorities had cracked a huge fraud case involving hundreds of accounts. They also allegedly threatened to arrest her imminently, then instructed her to prove her innocence by transferring her cryptocurrency.

Under that pressure, the woman transferred crypto assets valued at 81 million yen — about $515,000 based on the reported conversion — making the incident one of the larger crypto fraud cases of its kind, investigators said. Because cryptocurrency transfers are generally irreversible, recovering funds in a case like this typically depends on tracing where the assets moved rather than reversing the payment.

🇯🇵 Au Japon, une femme a perduéquivalent de plus de 500 000 $ en cryptos après que de faux policiers lui ont demandé de transférer ses fonds pour… « prouver son innocence ». L’arnaque aurait été orchestrée depuis un centre d’appels au Cambodge. Les escrocs se faisaient… pic.twitter.com/GS09p6esa1 — Goku 🗞 (@Crypto__Goku) September 27, 2026

As described in the post, the alleged scam was said to have been orchestrated from a call center in Cambodia.

Network Allegedly Based 4,000 Kilometers Away

Police suspect the two were involved in a larger crime network operating outside Japan. The suspected group is said to have been based in Cambodia, more than 4,000 kilometers from Japan, and investigators believe the network was allegedly led by a Chinese national. Cambodia has appeared in international reporting in recent years as a base for large-scale online scam operations targeting victims in other countries.

That physical distance reportedly separated the operation from its victims, but Japanese investigators continued pursuing those they believe took part in the scheme.

Investigators Link Suspects to Wider Losses

Police think the two arrested suspects may have been involved in multiple frauds. Estimated losses attributed to the suspected network total around 240 million yen — almost $1.5 million according to the reported currency conversion — though investigators are still working to establish the full extent of the alleged crime ring.

The suspects allegedly instilled fear in their victim with official-sounding claims, presenting the alleged money-laundering case to police as an emergency matter. The woman was told that 400 people’s accounts were involved and that the total value of the fraud case was around 600 billion yen. Callers also allegedly told her that her card had been linked to those accounts, and she was coerced into transferring her cryptocurrencies under threat of arrest.

The technique relies on intimidation and perceived authority to force victims into quick financial decisions.

Police continue to examine communications, transfers, and other suspected network activity. Crypto fraud cases can involve multiple participants spread across several countries and payment methods, which makes it difficult for investigators to trace transactions before determining who may be suspected members.

The arrests may give Japanese authorities more information about the alleged network, and police will now look into whether other suspects were involved in similar operations.

The case serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by criminals posing as police officers: genuine police investigations do not demand cryptocurrency transfers as a way of proving innocence.

Source: Live Bitcoin News