A Japanese woman lost between 300,000 and 500,000 yen after joining a side-hustle scam that promised rewards for liking videos [3].
The case highlights the psychological tactics used in modern digital fraud, where small initial payouts are used to build trust before larger sums are stolen.
Known as Woman A, the victim was lured by the prospect of earning extra money to help her household budget. The scheme began with a small transaction of 5,005 yen [1]. Shortly after, she received a payment of 6,505 yen [2], creating the illusion of a legitimate and profitable venture.
This initial profit encouraged her to continue, despite warnings from her daughter, who lives outside the prefecture. Her daughter said, "It is a scam, so stop" [4]. Woman A said, "That cannot be" [5].
Believing she was exempt from the failures experienced by others, Woman A continued to transfer funds. The total amount she sent to the fraudsters eventually ranged from 300,000 to 500,000 yen [3].
The scam exploited a psychological bias where the victim believed her personal outcome would differ from the typical failure of others. By the time the fraud became apparent, the perpetrators had disappeared with the funds.
“"It is a scam, so stop"”
This incident illustrates the 'foot-in-the-door' technique used by cybercriminals. By providing a small, guaranteed return on a low-risk initial investment, scammers bypass the victim's natural skepticism. Once the victim perceives the system as functional, they become more susceptible to high-value requests, often ignoring warnings from family members due to the perceived evidence of success.
