--- title: "Scammer Fools Woman Into Thinking They’re an Astronaut Who Needs a Ticket Home" description: "Earlier this year, a fake astronaut conned an old woman into sending him a ton of money in order to get back home from the ISS — and catfished her to boot." date: "2022-10-12" modified: "2022-10-12" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/iss-scammer-catfish" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "cosmonaut" - "iss" - "online scams" - "the digest" --- # Scammer Fools Woman Into Thinking They’re an Astronaut Who Needs a Ticket Home ![Earlier this year, a fake astronaut conned an old woman into sending him a ton of money in order to get back home from the ISS — and catfished her to boot.]() *\Image: Getty Images\* ## Phony Cosmonaut Earlier this year, a phony astronaut scammed a woman into sending him a ton of money in a phishing con that left an elderly woman heartbroken and, presumably, broke. As [Japanese newspaper *Yomiuri Shimbum* reported]() last week, the scammer, who claimed he was a Russian cosmonaut, ended up taking 4.4 million yen — the equivalent of about $30,000 — from a 65-year-old Japanese woman after claiming he was on board the International Space Station and needed the money to hitch a ride back to Earth. The grifter went as far as to claim he was in love with her and wanted to start a life with her in Japan — provided, of course, that she pay for his ride home. It's a heart-breaking tale that has left us wondering how anybody could possibly fall for such a ruse. You'd think it's common knowledge that astronauts usually pay for a return ticket up front. ## Space-Con Air The fake cosmonaut, whose name remains unknown, convinced the woman by name-dropping space agencies like NASA and JAXA, Japan's space agency. The scammer also told the woman when he was out of contact for days at a time that the cellular service on board the ISS was spotty — though, [as *Gizmodo* notes](), there is no cell service in space, and astronauts rely on an internet-connected IP phone. Needless to say, astronauts also don't need to raise funds to get back to Earth, because that's usually included in the ticket price, which can easily reach tens of millions of dollars. Eventually, after sending a total of five payments, the woman wised up and reported the scammer to the police, though it's unclear if the con artist was arrested or if the woman's money was recovered. ## Prince Scam Unfortunately, this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened: in 2016, a man, who [claimed to be Nigeria's first astronaut](), said he was stuck on board a Soviet craft and needed $3 million to return home. The lesson seems rather obvious: if someone tells you they're an astronaut and that they need your money, don't believe them — there is no way anyone who's on board the space station is hurting for money that badly. **More on the ISS:** [*Saudi Arabia Just Bought Two SpaceX Tickets to the International Space Station*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()