Japan's Most Unhinged Scammer Loses it All

Summary

Watanabe Mai, a young woman with no education or skills, devised a scam to extort money from lonely men, which she then sold as a guide. Her method involved cultivating trust, arousing concern, and making the target feel like a hero. Despite her success, the police caught on, leading to her arrest and the downfall of her scheme. Mai's earnings were spent on host clubs, where she fell in love with a host, ultimately leading to her financial and legal troubles.

Takeaways

• 🚫 Unethical and Illegal: Watanabe Mai's method of scamming money from men is unethical and illegal.
• 🎯 Target Selection: The ideal target is a lonely, unfulfilled man with disposable income but poor financial management.
• 📱 Building Trust: Cultivating trust is key, achieved through constant communication and making the target feel special.
• 🔎 Detailed Knowledge: Learning everything about the target, including personal habits and history, is crucial for the scam to work.
• 📉 Arousing Concern: The scammer creates a sense of urgency by pretending to be in financial trouble or danger.
• 💸 Extracting Money: Money is extracted by casting a 'spell' of concern, without directly asking for it.
• 🤔 Anticipating Resistance: The scammer is prepared to counter any alternative solutions proposed by the target to avoid payment.
• 🦸‍♂️ Hero Complex: Making the target feel like a hero who saves the day is crucial for the scam's success.
• 🔄 Repeat Business: Scammers often return to the same target for additional money after a period of time.
• 💔 Downfall of Mai: Mai's scamming activities were exposed when one of her students failed to provide proper 'aftercare' and the targets went to the police.
• 💵 Expensive Lifestyle: Mai spent all her ill-gotten gains on host clubs, which was her initial motivation for scamming.

Q & A

What was Watanabe Mai's initial occupation before she started scamming?

Watanabe Mai initially worked in what the Japanese call the 'night industry', which implies she was involved in the adult entertainment sector.

How did Watanabe Mai come up with the idea to scam men for money?

Mai came up with the idea to scam men for money after she desperately texted every guy on her contact list asking for money and only the loneliest, most unfulfilled guy responded.

What is the first step in Mai's scamming method?

The first step in Mai's scamming method is 'S: select your target', where she advises to find a man who is good at making money but bad at holding on to it, specifically one who is lonely, isolated, and has no hobbies.

What type of men does Mai suggest avoiding in her scamming guide?

Mai suggests avoiding playboys and f-boys, who are self-centered and only interested in physical relationships, as they are savvy and self-centered, making them difficult to manipulate.

How does Mai's method aim to cultivate trust with the target?

Mai's method cultivates trust by texting the target frequently, making him feel special, and learning everything about him to make him fully trust her before attempting to extract money.

What is the 'casting a spell' phase in Mai's scamming process?

The 'casting a spell' phase involves arousing concern by making the target think the scammer is in danger, which leads to the target offering financial help.

Why does Mai never directly ask for money from her targets?

Mai never directly asks for money to avoid arousing suspicion. Instead, she mentions 'solutions' that don't solve the problem, prompting the target to offer financial help voluntarily.

What is the 'Aftercare' step in Mai's scamming method and why is it important?

The 'Aftercare' step involves making the target feel like a hero who saved the scammer. It is crucial because it ensures the target feels good about giving money and is more likely to be scammed again in the future.

How much money did Watanabe Mai likely scam in her four-year career?

It is estimated that Watanabe Mai scammed over $2 million US from desperate men during her four-year career.

What was the turning point that led to Mai's arrest?

The turning point that led to Mai's arrest was when one of her students, Ieda Miku, scammed two men and did not provide proper 'Aftercare', leading the victims to report the incident to the police.

What was the ultimate reason behind Mai's scamming and how did it lead to her downfall?

The ultimate reason behind Mai's scamming was her desire to spend money at host clubs. This led to her downfall as she was living paycheck to paycheck, spending all the scammed money on host clubs, and eventually, her actions caught up with her, leading to multiple arrests.