Scams are everywhere these days, constantly evolving beyond the usual phone calls and dodgy shopping sites. We're seeing a surge in messages impersonating government agencies, trying to trick people in places like Taiwan and Japan.
Recently, a Japanese X (formerly Twitter) user shared a scam email they received. The message threatened to "send your nude photos to your colleagues and boss." But here's the kicker: the user is a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), meaning they have no boss or colleagues! Their sarcastic reply, "Heck yeah! Send 'em!", quickly went viral, leaving netizens in stitches and wondering what kind of wild scam tactics these fraudsters are cooking up now.
According to the user's screenshot, the email was titled "IMPORTANT Police Agency" and claimed to possess their nude photos. It demanded a 900,000 JPY transfer to a specified bank account immediately, or else the photos would be sent to their company colleagues and boss.
The user hilariously clapped back, "C'mon, Police Agency, don't do this! Don't send my nude photos to my non-existent colleagues and boss, especially since I'm a NEET."
But the story gets even better! The user, still playing along, sarcastically replied, "Awesome! Send 'em!" And believe it or not, the scammer actually responded, "Already sent!" The user couldn't stop laughing at how ridiculous these scam tactics have become.
The post blew up online, cracking up countless netizens. Many pointed out that the scammer's fake "Police Agency" title used a simplified Chinese character for "庁" (chō), missing a stroke, which was a dead giveaway. Others noticed the email used simplified Chinese characters throughout and had odd formatting issues, like "the Enter key not sending messages directly," leading them to believe the sender was likely from China, not an official Japanese agency. This type of scam is common in simplified Chinese-speaking regions, with the email structure, language style, and sending methods resembling those used in popular Chinese communication apps like WeChat.
Some users also noted that the company name and account details listed in the scam email were untraceable, likely belonging to a newly established shell company. However, seasoned netizens chimed in, revealing that the email address itself has been linked to old scams for over a decade. "Stay sharp, folks!" they warned.
In response, experienced users suggested, "Provide the scam account information to the police. There's a chance the account could be frozen, preventing the scammer from using financial services."
Netizens also mocked the absurdity of using nude photos as a scam threat. "Does this tactic even work anymore?" they wondered. "Would anyone actually fall for this and send money?"
While this incident provided some laughs, it's a stark reminder to remain vigilant against scams. If you receive similar threatening or fraudulent emails, don't panic. Avoid clicking suspicious links or replying, and report them to your local anti-fraud hotline or police.
via： togetter