A Tokyo couple arrested on allegations of fraudulently opening bank accounts and applying for credit cards using other people’s IDs has been found to have purchased around 200 smartphones with them, investigative sources said Tuesday.
The suspects — Takaaki Saito, 32, and his 33-year-old wife, Chiharu — are accused of exploiting multiple stolen identities to make the purchases.
The smartphones have yet to be recovered, leading the Metropolitan Police Department’s criminal proceeds division to suspect the devices have been resold.
According to investigators, the unemployed couple allegedly used the fraudulently obtained credit cards to buy smartphones, luxury clothing and expensive liquor. A review of their bank records indicated they had acquired about 200 smartphones in total, although none were found during a police search of their residence.
Authorities believe the suspects avoided traceable online platforms and flea market apps, and instead sold the smartphones at buyback stores. They allegedly used forged IDs to pass identity checks at these shops.
Police say the Saitos obtained personal information through schemes involving high-end sports cars and gyms. They reportedly staged confrontations with truck drivers by making false claims such as “you caused a pebble to hit our car," and used the opportunity to photograph their driver’s licenses.
The couple are also accused of stealing IDs from gym lockers to apply for the credit cards, which they used to purchase the smartphones and other goods.
Their fraudulent activities, which took place between December 2022 and August this year, are estimated to have caused damages totaling approximately ¥95 million ($634,000).
On Monday, police rearrested the couple on charges of credit card fraud involving the purchase of 13 bottles of whiskey valued at ¥2.9 million for resale.
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