Real Estate Scams Spread in Osaka, Japan
Fraudsters Posed as Managers, Claiming "We Learned It from Netflix"
Original Series "Jimenshi" Exposes Real Estate Scam Tactics
Real estate scams are rampant in Osaka, Japan, where land prices are on the rise. In particular, the emergence of scammers who claim to have learned their methods from a popular Netflix drama has heightened warnings about real estate fraud in Japan.
On October 20 (local time), the Mainichi Shimbun reported that a group known as "Jimenshi" (land scammers) have been repeatedly arrested amid the real estate boom in Osaka. The newspaper pointed out that, using schemes reminiscent of those seen in popular dramas, prime plots of land and buildings in Osaka have become frequent targets of these crimes. The Netflix series "Tokyo Swindlers" (Japanese title: Jimenshi), which aired last year, features a fraud ring posing as owners of massive real estate properties, using fake identities and forged documents.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun, in December 2024, two men, including a 29-year-old employee at a real estate company, were arrested by Osaka police on charges of attempted fraud. They allegedly impersonated the manager of a condominium in Osaka's Abeno Ward in an attempt to steal a down payment of 4.4 million yen (approximately 41.4 million won). Inspired by the Netflix drama, the scam ring devised a plan to stage a fake real estate transaction and swindle money. They targeted a vacant room left empty after a tenant moved out, recruited buyers by pretending to be the room's manager, and prepared forged contracts. However, their scheme was uncovered just before the contract was finalized.
In June of this year, another Jimenshi group was found to have perpetrated a real estate scam involving about 1.4 billion yen (approximately 13.1 billion won) in Osaka's Minami area. Four individuals, both men and women, were arrested or referred to prosecutors for impersonating the representatives of a company that owned three five- to six-story buildings and their land in a prime location in Minami. They used forged driver's licenses and personal seals to falsify the corporate registry, and, without the real owner's knowledge, seized the property rights and attempted to sell the properties.
Analysts attribute the recent surge in Jimenshi cases to skyrocketing land prices in Osaka, driven by the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo (2025) and a rise in inbound tourism. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's official land price announcement as of January 2025, residential land prices in Osaka city have risen for four consecutive years, with a 5.8% increase. In particular, commercial land prices in Dotonbori, Minami, soared by as much as 22.6%.
Nagata Osakazu, a judicial scrivener who served as an advisor for the Netflix drama "Jimenshi," stated, "In Tokyo, land prices have already peaked and remain at a high level. Whether for development or investment, buyers are limited." He added, "In contrast, Osaka continues to see active development of hotels and condominiums, fueling the upward trend. As transactions increase, it creates fertile ground for Jimenshi to exploit." Nagata emphasized that to prevent falling victim to real estate fraud, "It is crucial not to take the other party's word at face value. Always verify whether the real estate agency actually exists and whether the property is genuinely listed for sale. Do not neglect these basic checks."
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