SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Japanese Lawyers Defrauding Scam Victims: A Troubling Trend in Japan Affecting A Significant Percentage of Japanese Scam Victims
In Japan, a disturbing trend has emerged involving Japanese lawyers who exploit desperate scam victims by promising to investigate the crimes and recover their lost money.
These Japanese lawyers are scamming the victims again, they knowingly fail to deliver on their promises, instead pocketing the victims’ money and providing little to no legal assistance. This unethical and illegal behavior leaves victims further burdened financially and emotionally, increasing the trauma that these victims have already suffered from the initial scam.
Many victims have experienced some form of a recovery scam. They come through emails, messages, and even in social media comments. But what makes this different is that these are licensed Japanese lawyers doing the scamming this time – or at least allowing their practice and license to be used by scammers.
SCARS NOTE:
We want to thank our partner NPO Charms for their help in developing this information. They are our partner in Japan, and Japanese victims should contact them for professional assistance & services. https://npo-charms.org
The Japanese Lawyers’ Bait-and-Switch Tactic
These unscrupulous Japanese lawyers are nothing more than scammers themselves – they target individuals who have fallen prey to various scams, such as romance scams, investment frauds, or online phishing attacks. They approach the victims, often through advertisements or online platforms, promising to help them recover their lost funds. They may even claim to have a proven track record of success in such cases, further enticing the desperate victims.
However, once the victims engage the Japanese lawyers’ services and pay the upfront fees, the promised assistance evaporates. The lawyers may engage in minimal investigative efforts, if any, and fail to take significant legal action to recover the stolen money. Instead, they may prolong the process, demanding additional fees or withholding information, while the victims remain in a state of financial distress and uncertainty.
Notable Examples of Japanese Lawyer Misconduct & Fraud
- In 2023, an 82-year-old lawyer and three others were arrested in Osaka for defrauding romance scam victims. The group allegedly collected millions of yen in retainer fees from victims, despite knowing that there was little to no prospect of recovering the stolen money.
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In 2022, a lawyer in Fukuoka was arrested on suspicion of taking advantage of investment scam victims. The lawyer allegedly collected over 20 million yen in fees from victims, promising to help them recover their stolen funds. However, he reportedly failed to provide any substantial legal assistance and instead pocketed the victims’ money.
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In 2021, a lawyer in Tokyo was indicted on charges of defrauding a man who had been the victim of a real estate scam. The lawyer allegedly convinced the man to invest in a fake real estate scheme, resulting in the loss of over 100 million yen.
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In 2020, a lawyer in Kyoto was arrested on suspicion of defrauding a woman who had been the victim of a romance scam. The lawyer allegedly convinced the woman to invest in a fake business venture, resulting in the loss of over 50 million yen.
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In 2019, a lawyer in Nagoya was arrested on suspicion of defrauding several victims of various scams. The lawyer allegedly collected millions of yen in fees from victims, promising to help them recover their lost money. However, he reportedly failed to provide any meaningful legal assistance and instead kept the victims’ money for himself.
Obviously, one arrest a year is not enough and this trend is only growing!
These cases highlight the concerning trend of lawyers exploiting vulnerable scam victims in Japan. The financial and emotional toll on these victims is immense, as they lose not only their hard-earned money but also their trust in the legal system.
Protecting Scam Victims from Japanese Lawyer Exploitation
To address this issue, authorities and legal organizations in Japan are implementing measures to protect scam victims from lawyer exploitation. These measures include:
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Raising public awareness about the risks of engaging with unscrupulous lawyers and providing resources to identify legitimate legal services. However, this is flawed since in most cases, these are licensed attorneys.
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Establishing stricter ethical guidelines for lawyers, including clear prohibitions against misleading or exploitative practices.
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Strengthening enforcement mechanisms to hold lawyers accountable for misconduct and providing legal aid to victims seeking redress.
What is really needed is a better system of crime victims’ assistance in Japan through law enforcement and the criminal justice system, so that victims to not feel abandoned and have to turn to Japanese lawyers for help at all!
Summary
The exploitation of scam victims by Japanese lawyers is a serious ethical and legal issue that demands urgent attention.
By raising awareness, strengthening ethical standards, and enforcing legal consequences, Japan can protect its citizens from further victimization and uphold the integrity of its legal system.
SCARS Recommends
SCARS recommends that no scam victims seek assistance from an attorney to recover their money, this is the role of law enforcement. The reasons to find legal advice for scam victims is when they may be involved in money laundering, need tax advice, or some other legal issue that affects their financial recovery – not to recover money – unless the attorney will work on a contingency basis, meaning they will not charge the victim anything upfront but will work on a percentage of what they recover.
More About Japanese Lawyers:
- Japanese Lawyer Arrested For Money Recovery Fraud – 2023 (scamsnow.com)
- In Japan – Secondary Victimization by Law Firms (scamsnow.com)
More About Money Recovery Scams:
- Money Recovery & Investigative Scams Target Scam Victims [Updated] (romancescamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims Financial Survival & Money Recovery – Article Catalog 2023 (romancescamsnow.com)
- SCARS Quick Guide To Money Recovery (romancescamsnow.com)
- Money Recovery Room Scams (romancescamsnow.com)
- Money Recovery: According To INTERPOL It May Not Be Too Late To Recovery Your Money [UPDATED] (romancescamsnow.com)
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To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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