Dating App Romance Scams in Japan: Warning Signs and Help
Published 2026-10-25
This article explains how romance scams on dating apps and social media work in Japan, the warning signs to watch for, and where to call for help. In short: if someone you have never met in person asks you for money, to invest, or to pay a fee to receive a package, stop and talk to someone first. In Japan you can call the police consultation line #9110 or the consumer hotline 188.
What is a romance scam?
A romance scam is when someone builds a relationship with you online, without meeting, and then takes your money.
Japan's National Police Agency (警察庁) defines an "SNS romance scam" (SNS型ロマンス詐欺) as fraud in which the scammer exchanges messages many times through social media or similar services without meeting face to face, builds trust, makes the victim feel love or closeness, and then takes money or other things.
The police separate this from an "SNS investment scam" (SNS型投資詐欺), where the scammer asks for money as an investment. In real life the two often mix: a romantic partner online starts talking about investing.
How common is it in Japan?
In 2025, the police counted 5,645 romance scam cases in Japan, with losses of about 54.6 billion yen.
These figures come from the National Police Agency's report on 2025 (final figures, published June 2026). Some points from the report:
- Cases went up by 47.6% from the year before. Losses went up by 36.3%.
- The first contact was through a dating (matching) app in 1,846 cases (32.7%), followed by Instagram (22.8%) and Facebook (18.6%). These three made up about 70% of cases.
- When the money was taken, the conversation was on LINE in 93.8% of cases.
- Victims were found in all age groups, mostly people in their 40s to 60s. About 60% of cases involved men, and 2,012 cases involved women.
- In about 40% of cases, the money was sent mainly as crypto assets (暗号資産).
So the scam is not rare, and it can happen to anyone of any age.
Warning signs
The common pattern is: you meet online, move to a private chat app, and then money comes up before you ever meet.
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan (国民生活センター) described a typical flow of "romance investment scams" in 2022:
- You match with someone on a dating site or app.
- Before meeting, the person asks to move to another messaging app.
- The person recommends an investment website and encourages you to invest.
- You are told to send money to start.
- A small investment seems to make a profit.
- The person pushes you to invest more.
- When you try to take your money out, you are asked to pay fees or taxes for various reasons, and you never get the money.
- The person and the website stop answering, and the money is not returned.
From the police and consumer center information, watch for these signs:
Sign 1: You have never met, but money comes up
The person you talk to has not met you face to face, but starts talking about investing, loans, or money they need. Both the police definition and the consumer center's warnings start from this point: a relationship built without meeting.
Sign 2: The person wants to leave the dating app quickly
The consumer center's example shows the person asking to move to another messaging app before you meet. The police data show that, when money was taken, the chat was almost always on LINE.
Moving to LINE is very common in Japan and is not a scam by itself. The warning sign is moving away from the app and money coming up before you meet.
Sign 3: An investment that "only you" are told about
The person introduces an investment website or app, and you seem to make money at first. If you are then asked to pay a "fee" or "tax" to withdraw your money, the consumer center describes this as part of the scam.
Sign 4: A gift or package with a fee
In 2020, the National Consumer Affairs Center warned about a pattern in which a person met on social media or a dating app says they are sending you a gift. Then you are told to pay customs or delivery fees before you can receive it. In one example, a woman was asked for 500,000 yen and pressed to pay by international transfer within a few days.
The center's advice: do not agree to receive packages from people you have met only online, and do not pay fees they ask for.
Sign 5: You are asked to receive money or goods for someone
The police report also counts people who were arrested as "receivers" (受け子), the people who collect cash or goods for scam groups. Of 304 people arrested in that role in romance and investment scams in 2025, 119 had applied through social media. If someone online asks you to receive cash or packages for them, say no and ask the police.
What to do before you send any money
Stop, do not send money, and talk to a public consultation desk first.
The consumer center's advice includes:
- Do not invest because someone you met on a dating site or app tells you to.
- Use dating sites and apps according to their rules.
- If you feel uneasy, contact your local consumer center before you send money.
It also helps to keep the messages, profile screenshots, transfer records and any website addresses. A consultation desk can understand your situation more quickly with these.
Where to get help
For an emergency, call 110. For a consultation that is not an emergency, call #9110 (police) or 188 (consumer hotline).
| Who | Number | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Police (emergency) | 110 | When you are in danger or a crime is happening now |
| Police consultation line (警察相談専用電話) | #9110 | Non-emergency police consultation. Your call goes to the general consultation desk of the police headquarters in your area |
| Consumer hotline (消費者ホットライン) | 188 | Connects you to a nearby consumer center (消費生活センター) |
| Foreign Residents Support Center (外国人在留支援センター, FRESC) | 0570-011000 | Government consultation desks for foreign residents in one place, in Tokyo |
| Foreign Residents Comprehensive Information Center (外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター) | 0570-013904 | Immigration questions by phone in English and other languages |
Police consultation: #9110
The National Police Agency says #9110 is a nationwide number. When you call, you are connected to the general consultation desk of the police headquarters that covers the place you are calling from. Many police departments also accept consultations on their websites.
Consumer hotline: 188
The Consumer Affairs Agency (消費者庁) says 188 connects you to a nearby consumer center or consultation office. You may be asked to enter your postal code. The consultation is free, but call charges apply once you are connected. Some IP phones and prepaid mobile phones cannot use 188. In that case, call your local consumer center directly. The Consumer Affairs Agency's page does not mention foreign-language support for 188, so you may need to speak Japanese or bring someone who can.
For problems with businesses outside Japan, the National Consumer Affairs Center also has a Cross-border Consumer Center (越境消費者センター, CCJ).
Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC)
FRESC brings together several government desks that support foreign residents.
It is on the 13th floor of Yotsuya Tower in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and is open from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays. Desks there include:
- The Japan Legal Support Center (法テラス, Houterasu), which gives free information about legal systems and where to get legal help
- The Human Rights Department of the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau (東京法務局人権擁護部), for human rights problems
- Residence consultation by the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau (appointment needed)
If you also have questions about your visa, the Foreign Residents Comprehensive Information Center (0570-013904) answers general immigration questions on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:15. It supports English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Thai, Myanmar and Sinhala.
FAQ
I already sent money. Is it too late?
Contact the police (#9110, or 110 in an emergency) and the consumer hotline (188) as soon as possible. Keep all messages and transfer records. Do not pay any more "fees" to get your money back. The consumer center describes extra withdrawal fees as part of how these scams work.
He says he loves me and wants to marry me. Can that be a scam?
The police definition of a romance scam is exactly this: building feelings of love or closeness without meeting, then taking money. Words of love are not proof. If money, investment or fees come up before you have met, treat it as a warning sign.
Can I consult in English?
The Foreign Residents Comprehensive Information Center supports English by phone for immigration questions. For #9110 and 188, the official pages we checked do not mention English support. If your Japanese is not strong, ask a Japanese-speaking friend to help you call.
Are all dating apps dangerous?
No. The police report shows that dating apps were the first contact in about one third of romance scam cases, but that does not mean the apps themselves are scams. Use them according to their rules, and be careful when money comes up with someone you have not met.
Summary
- A romance scam is when someone builds a relationship online without meeting, then takes your money.
- In 2025, the police counted 5,645 cases in Japan. Dating apps were the most common first contact, and LINE was almost always used when money was taken.
- Warning signs: money or investment comes up before you meet, a quick move to a private chat app, withdrawal fees, gift packages with fees, and requests to receive money or goods for someone.
- Before you send money, talk to #9110 (police), 188 (consumer hotline) or FRESC. In an emergency, call 110.
- Rules and support can change. In the end, please check with the police, your local consumer center or the relevant office.
If you are looking for a serious partner, see how to marry a Japanese man in Japan and the spouse visa in Japan.
References
- National Police Agency, Status of special fraud and SNS investment and romance scams in 2025 (final figures) (令和7年における特殊詐欺及びSNS型投資・ロマンス詐欺の認知・検挙状況等について（確定値）): https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/safetylife/sos47/new-topics/260605/01.html (Checked on October 25, 2026)
- National Police Agency, report document (PDF) for the above: https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/safetylife/sos47/assets/img/new-topics/detail/260605/01/01.pdf (Checked on October 25, 2026)
- National Police Agency, White Paper on Police 2020, police consultation (#9110): https://www.npa.go.jp/hakusyo/r02/honbun/html/w2233000.html (Checked on October 25, 2026)
- Consumer Affairs Agency, Consumer hotline 188: https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/local_cooperation/local_consumer_administration/hotline/ (Checked on October 25, 2026)
- National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, romance investment scams (2022): https://www.kokusen.go.jp/news/data/n-20220303_2.html (Checked on October 25, 2026)
- National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, "gift of love" international romance scams (2020): https://www.kokusen.go.jp/news/data/n-20200213_2.html (Checked on October 25, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/support/fresc/fresc01.html (Checked on October 25, 2026)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Foreign Residents Comprehensive Information Center: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/consultation/center/index.html (Checked on October 25, 2026)
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