Nagoya teen arrested for allegedly making scam calls from base in Myanmar
NAGOYA -- A high school student suspected of making scam phone calls from Myanmar as part of a fraud ring targeting people in Japan has been arrested, Aichi Prefectural Police announced May 24.
The 16-year-old from Nagoya's Mizuho Ward had been taken into protective custody by Thai authorities in February after he called his family for help. He returned to Japan where he was subject to voluntary questioning, but went missing on May 19. Prefectural police say they found and arrested him in Saitama Prefecture four days later.
Aichi police have twice arrested two other men -- Shoki Ishikawa, 32, and Tomonari Yachi, 22 -- who were at the same scam center in Myanmar allegedly alongside the 16-year-old.
The 16-year-old is specifically accused of teaming up with Ishikawa and others to pose as different people including a police officer to call a 46-year-old man from Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, on Jan. 14 while the latter was staying in the United States. The suspect allegedly falsely told the victim that his account had been used in crimes, making him remit 9.9 million yen (approx. $69,400) in cash.
Police have not revealed whether the 16-year-old has admitted to the allegations.
The student apparently entered Myanmar after a man he came to know over the internet in November last year told him that he "can learn programs abroad." The 16-year-old is believed to have been engaged in fraud by repeatedly making deceptive phone calls alongside eight or so other Japanese nationals, and received rewards for success.
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