Fukuoka police re-arrest 4 over Cambodia-based phone fraud group
In short
Fukuoka prefectural police on 20 October re-arrested four people, including Takumi Oi (大井拓実), 31, believed to lead a group of phone-scam callers based in Cambodia. Police say reports of fraud using the same aliases and methods number 38 cases in 16 prefectures, totalling about ¥150 million.
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Fukuoka prefectural police on 20 October re-arrested four men and women on suspicion of fraud over a special fraud operation based in Cambodia. The group is described as one of "kakeko", the callers who phone victims. Takumi Oi (大井拓実), 31, is believed to be its leader. [ 3 , 4 ]
The others re-arrested are Sho Okada (岡田翔), 28, Riho Oi (大井里穂), 28, and Yu Sakuji (作次ゆう), 31. All four are listed as having no fixed address and no job. The re-arrest suspicion is that they conspired with other group members to obtain cash from three people in their 20s and 30s between December 2025 and January 2026 by posing as police officers. [ 3 , 4 ]
According to the police, reports of fraud using the same aliases and methods as the group total 38 cases in 16 prefectures, amounting to about ¥150 million. Sankei Shimbun reported that police will investigate the group's involvement in those cases. It also reported that police have already arrested six other men and women from the group on suspicion of fraud and other offences. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Sankei Shimbun reported, citing the police, that the group operated from a large site in Cambodia called an "en" (園). It said some members told police they had applied after seeing social media posts such as "just two days of excavation work in Cambodia for ¥500,000" and travelled there. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Police said they will investigate the group's involvement in the other reported cases, so the number of suspected victims could change. The coverage is of police statements and does not describe any charges.
Key facts
- Fukuoka prefectural police re-arrested four men and women on suspicion of fraud on 20 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The suspects are Takumi Oi (大井拓実), 31, believed to be the leader of the group of callers (kakeko), Sho Okada (岡田翔), 28, Riho Oi (大井里穂), 28, and Yu Sakuji (作次ゆう), 31; all are listed as having no fixed address and no job. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The re-arrest concerns cash obtained from three people in their 20s and 30s between December 2025 and January 2026 by suspects posing as police officers. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Police say reports of fraud using the same aliases and methods the group used total 38 cases in 16 prefectures, about ¥150 million in all. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police have already arrested six other men and women from the group on suspicion of fraud and other offences. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Fukuoka prefectural police re-arrested four people on 20 October over a Cambodia-based special fraud operation. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to the police, 38 fraud reports in 16 prefectures involve the same aliases and methods, totalling about ¥150 million. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The re-arrest suspects are accused of conspiring with other group members to obtain cash from three people while posing as police officers, between December 2025 and January 2026. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the group is responsible for the 38 reported cases Police said they will investigate the group's involvement; the documents do not say it has been established.
- How members were recruited and sent to Cambodia Only the Sankei Shimbun reports that some members told police they answered social media posts offering ¥500,000 for two days of excavation work in Cambodia.