Despite being a widely publicized problem, phone fraudsters posing as relatives in urgent need of money continue to bilk money out of middle-aged and elderly Japanese, according to National Police Agency statistics released Thursday.
The agency said the perpetrators garnered a total of about 1.1 billion yen in April -- the highest monthly amount since it began compiling records in January 2003.
These scams, which have been coined "Ore ore" ("It's me") frauds, involve mainly young men acting alone or in groups who call targets and persuade them that they are relatives in trouble and need quick cash -- one example is to say they have caused a fatal traffic accident and need compensation money.
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