Japan’s Disability Dating App Scammers: Man with Visual Impairment Speaks Out

From Barrier Free Japan

May 17 2025

TOKYO – In the wake of three employees being arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police for luring a man they met through a matching app to a restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo, forcing him to pay 1.1 million yen in cash and other charges in a scam; a man in his 20s who was a victim of the “rip-off” scam by the recently arrested group spoke to NHK. The man has a level two visual impairment and usually uses a white cane when walking outside.

He said that in February of this year, he began communicating with Rina Sugawara — the suspect who went by the name “Risa” — on IRODORI, a dating app for people with disabilities or those who are understanding of disabilities. According to him, they arranged to meet on the same day they started chatting.

On LINE, after receiving a message saying, “I’m looking forward to today,” the conversation shifted to drinks, with messages like “What kind of alcohol do you usually drink?” and “I often drink oolong tea mixed with alcohol or cocktails!”

The man said:

“I started [using the app] hoping to meet someone nice. That day, I happened to have a day off work, and after chatting a bit, we started talking about getting a meal, and we ended up going out to eat that same day.”

At the bar, the man was told by a staff member, “All-you-can-drink is 5,000 yen per person.” However, after a while, a staff member brought out a deck of playing cards, and “Risa” suggested playing a game. The loser had to drink a shot of liqueur as a penalty.

The man believed the drinks were included in the all-you-can-drink plan, but they were later claimed to be “not included,” and he was ultimately charged 680,000 yen (approx. $4,300 USD). He was pressured to withdraw the money from an ATM if he didn’t have enough on him.

At that moment, “Risa” pretended to help by asking the staff, “Can I pay by card?” and acted like she would pay too. But when told, “We don’t accept cards,” the man was forced to pay the full amount himself.

Afterward, the man asked “Risa” to at least pay half of the bill later. She replied via LINE with messages like “I’m sorry for the trouble I caused,” and “I’ll definitely bring the money next time we meet,” but a few days later, he was no longer able to contact her.

The man said:

“I was tricked in an extremely malicious way. They shamelessly took money from me—money I earned myself or received through my disability pension. I feel anger and resentment. They approached me knowing I have a disability. That makes it especially vile.”

Executive Director of Kyosaren: “Despicable Act”

Katsunori Fujii, Executive Director of Kyosaren, a national association of organizations serving people with disabilities, commented:

“This is a despicable act that exploits the vulnerabilities of disabled individuals and is completely unforgivable. Depending on the type or severity of the disability, even if someone realizes it’s a scam, they may be unable to escape or even recognize that they’re being victimized.”

In a survey released last year by Kyosaren, it was reported that only 3.4% of people with disabilities live with a spouse or partner, highlighting the significant barriers to dating and marriage for disabled individuals.

Fujii continued:

“Of course, people with disabilities also desire love and marriage. Matching apps themselves aren’t the problem as they provide opportunities to meet people. But historically, people with disabilities and non-disabled people have been separated in education and society, which has led to lingering prejudice against disabled people in relationships. To support more people with disabilities in dating, marriage, and even parenting, we need comprehensive support in areas like housing, employment, and income security.”

Wave of Related Complaints

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Consumer Affairs Center, complaints related to dating apps continue to rise. Last fiscal year, there were 2,835 such consultations.

Of those, 133 were believed to involve being scammed or overcharged at restaurants or similar establishments. Around 90% of the complainants were in their teens to 30s.

The center urges the public:

“Once you’ve paid, it’s rare to get your money back. If someone you met on a dating app says something like ‘I know a good place,’ please look up the place online beforehand to avoid falling victim.”

Lawyer: “Not Paying Is Key”

According to lawyer Katsuyuki Aoshima, who handles many of these “rip-off” cases, most recent cases involve dating apps.

He explained the psychology of victims:

“Victims are often shocked when charged and mentally shut down. The scammers calmly present the charges while the victim is still confused, making them more likely to comply. No matter how politely they demand payment, to the victim, it’s terrifying.”

He stressed:

“Even if you fall victim, the most important thing is not to pay. Remember that if you don’t hand over any money, your financial loss is zero. Call 110 or go to the nearest police box. Focus on getting through the situation without paying.”

He also addressed cases where victims are forced to borrow from consumer loan companies and later asked to repay:

“We need society at large to recognize this type of scam. Consumer lenders should take these situations seriously and consider whether the loan was a legitimate transaction or the result of criminal victimization, and make decisions that help the victims.”