A 41-year-old man appeared in court Thursday for his first trial after allegedly defrauding a woman of nearly five million yen during a trip to Thailand [1], [2].

The case highlights the risks associated with "romance scams" where perpetrators build emotional trust through dating apps before orchestrating financial traps in foreign jurisdictions.

Shigeki Chiba, a self-styled consultant also known as "Sasaki," allegedly met the victim, identified as Ms. A, via a matching app in March 2026 [1]. According to the dossier, Chiba invited the woman on a vacation to Pattaya, Thailand, in August 2026 [1].

While in the beach resort city, Chiba allegedly staged a series of troubles to coerce money from the woman. Prosecutors said he claimed that items resembling cannabis were found in his bag and used this as a pretext to demand funds [2]. The total amount stolen is reported as 4.98 million yen by FNN [1], though other reports approximate the figure at five million yen [2].

Ms. A expressed her emotional distress following the incident. "I feel regret that I didn't notice I was being taken from, and the haze just won't stop," she said [1]. She described how Chiba had acted as though they were in a serious relationship, telling her he wanted to go to Thailand for a vacation [1].

Chiba was arrested in January 2026 [1]. The court proceedings on July 16 focused on the events leading up to the financial transfer, and the nature of the relationship between the defendant and the victim [1].

Throughout the trial, the prosecution has focused on how the defendant exploited the victim's romantic feelings to facilitate the fraud. The defense's response to these specific allegations of staged crises in Pattaya remains a central point of the legal proceedings [1], [2].

“I feel regret that I didn't notice I was being taken from, and the haze just won't stop.”

This case illustrates a sophisticated evolution of the romance scam, moving beyond simple digital requests for money to 'experiential fraud.' By isolating the victim in a foreign country and simulating a legal emergency—such as a drug offense—the perpetrator creates a high-pressure environment that bypasses the victim's critical judgment through a combination of fear and romantic loyalty.