Blonde Woman Extorts 300,000 Yen in Fake STD Test Scam Linked to Crime Group

“I want to have sex without worry.”

A court hearing was held on November 22 at the Tokyo District Court for Misaki Watanabe (28, at the time of her arrest), who is charged with fraud and other crimes for deceiving a man she met on a matching app by pretending to want to undergo a sexually transmitted disease (STD) test and tricking him into giving her about 300,000 yen.

According to the indictment, Watanabe suggested to the man,

“Recently, STDs have been spreading, so I want to get an STD test before engaging in sexual activity.”

She suggested this and fraudulently took about 300,000 yen as the cost for the test.

“During the initial trial held in October, defendant Watanabe admitted to the charges, stating there’s no mistake. At the court, she revealed the existence of an accomplice and gave vivid testimony about the method of the crime, the distribution of money with the accomplice, and the way the money was exchanged,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s judicial department.

Defendant Watanabe was wearing a black skirt and suit, but her appearance was quite out of place for the courtroom, with long blonde hair down to her waist, dark fake eyelashes, pink long nails, and stiletto heels. During the defendant’s questioning, she said:

“I regret doing this. I feel very sorry for the victim. I will return the money I took.”

She expressed words of regret, but an unbalanced impression was undeniable.

“I passed the bar exam. I’ll meet my dad tomorrow and get 1 million yen as a celebration.”.

Watanabe, who had met the man through a dating app, falsely claimed to be a 22-year-old university student and entered a rental room. She convinced him with the above statement and asked for a loan to cover the cost of a sexual health checkup.

“Watanabe is said to have performed only a handjob on the man in the rental room and suggested, ‘In order to become friends with benefits, a sexual health checkup is necessary. I will repay the cost with an extra amount.’ While it’s questionable that the victim handed over 300,000 yen as instructed, after the money was paid, the victim lost contact with Watanabe, which led to the police being consulted and the case coming to light,” according to law enforcement sources.

Watanabe had worked at a cabaret club in the past, but two years ago, she was invited by a friend to engage in enjo-kosai (compensated dating).