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Attorney Retainer Agreement

A few days later, documents arrived from the lawyer.

Two copies of a Attorney Retainer Agreement.

But I didn’t sign them. I didn’t send them back.

Something felt wrong. The discomfort inside me kept growing.

So I made a decision:

“I want to cancel and get a refund.”

Eventually, the money returned to me was—

Only 80,000 yen.

I had paid 500,000 yen. Only 80,000 yen came back.

I demanded an explanation.

“What exactly did you investigate?”

Later, they sent me a single sheet of paper.

It contained only domain information for what looked like an overseas brokerage website.

The moment I saw it, I understood:

“They didn’t investigate anything.” Or perhaps— “Even if they did, it was meaningless.”

Then the lawyer told me:

“We have refunded you. Do not contact us again.”

And on top of that, they made me sign a memorandum stating that I must keep all previous communications confidential.

That was when the truth hit me:

I had lost money in the first scam— and then lost money again when seeking help.

This was secondary victimization.

A Message to Readers

Right after being scammed, people desperately want to “get their money back.”

And there are those who prey on that desperation.

• “We can recover it immediately”
• “If you don’t act now, it will be too late”
• “You can pay later”

If you hear these words, please stop and take a breath.

The Lawyer’s True Identity

The lawyer I hired was indeed registered with the Tokyo Bar Association.

But I kept researching him.

Eventually, I found an announcement on the Tokyo Bar Association’s official website.

Dated December 17, 2025

It stated:

“Due to the finalization of a criminal judgment in which the attorney was a defendant in a fraud case, his registration was canceled on November 21, 2025, under Article 17, Item 1 of the Attorney Act.”

I was speechless.

The person I had trusted— the person I had turned to for help— had been disciplined for fraud.

I had been deceived again.

End of Episode 8 – Part 2

← Back to Episode 8(Part 1)

→ Continue to Episode 9 (Part 1)

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“Give me my money back!”

Those were the last words I shouted. And from that moment, the real nightmare began.

Desperate to recover my losses, I searched online for ways to “get my money back.” Hundreds of results appeared instantly.

Among them, one Tokyo-based law firm stood out. It ranked near the top of the search results and displayed bold claims:

• “Many successful refund cases”
• “Act now—your money can still be recovered”
• “Speed is everything”

I wanted to believe it.

“Maybe they can help me.”

So I contacted them through LINE.

A Late-Night Call

Around 10 p.m. that same night, my phone rang.

The man on the line spoke calmly and confidently:

• He said he was a licensed attorney
• He claimed to belong to the Tokyo Bar Association
• He insisted the bank account I transferred money to must be frozen immediately

Then he said the words that made my mind go blank:

“This is a romance scam.”

I followed his instructions and provided the account information.

That’s when the pressure began.

The Hard Sell

“We’ll start the account-freezing procedure right away,” he said.

I asked about the cost.

The amount he quoted was shockingly high.

“Because the damage is large, the fee will be around ○,○○○,000 yen.”

I told him I didn’t have that kind of money left.

He immediately replied:

“You can pay by credit card.”

I repeated that I barely had any money.

Without missing a beat, he said:

“500,000 yen should be manageable.”

Then came the pressure:

• “You can pay by card”
• “If we don’t act now, it will be too late”
• “The account must be frozen immediately”

He repeated these points again and again.

I wasn’t thinking clearly anymore.

“If this can help me get my money back…”

That hope pushed me to agree.

Minutes later, an email arrived with a payment link.

And just like that—

500,000 yen was charged to my card.

End of Episode 8 – Part 1

← Back to Episode 7(Part 2)

→ Continue to Episode 8 (Part 2)

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Author: Tasogare Category: Personal Experience

This article is based on my real experience with an investment scam. I share it to help prevent further victims.

I had reached my limit.

“Just a little more and it will be returned.” I had heard that line so many times. And I kept paying.

But not once did the money ever come back.

Then they demanded yet another payment— an amount far beyond what any ordinary person would consider reasonable.

That was the moment I finally understood everything.

This wasn’t an investment. It was a scam.

For the first time, I made the decision to stop.

The email I sent was short.

“I will cancel the withdrawal. I will reduce the amount.” “Cancel the large withdrawal immediately. I will not use any other large settlement system.”

And finally:

“Give me my money back!”

Those were my last words.

But no reply ever came.

In that moment, everything ended.

The money I thought I could recover was gone forever.

All that remained was regret and emptiness.

This was the conclusion of my experience.

End of Episode 7 – Part 2

→ Continues to Episode 8

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This article is based on my real experience with an investment scam. I share it to help prevent further victims.

My mind had already begun to understand.

This was not normal.

But my feelings couldn’t keep up.

I had already paid so much. It wasn’t an amount I could simply walk away from.

“Maybe it will come back if I just wait a little longer.”

That thought kept returning again and again.

The scammer spoke confidently, using technical terms:

SWIFT Anti–money laundering International regulations

At first glance, it all sounded legitimate.

But when I thought about it calmly, something felt off.

Even so, I couldn’t fully doubt them. A part of me still wanted to believe.

The desire to trust, and the fear that I was being deceived— my heart kept swinging between the two.

End of Episode 7 – Part 1

← Back to Episode 6(Part 2)

→ Continue to Episode 7 (Part 2)

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A Sense of Wrongness (2) — “Reality Begins to Crack”

From Discomfort to Certainty

The discomfort was no longer just a feeling.
It was becoming certainty.

Then, an email arrived.

“I have already sent the money.”

The amount was enormous—far beyond what anyone would normally transfer.
However, no matter how long I waited, nothing appeared in my bank account.

The Excuse

Then, another message came.

“The transfer failed.”

They said the reason was an issue with international remittance.

The Next Demand

And what they demanded next was—

a “fee” of several million yen, far beyond any normal sense of cost.

At that moment, I finally understood.

The Endless Cycle

Everything up to now had followed the same pattern:

Pay. It doesn’t end. Then, pay again.

The same cycle, repeating endlessly.

And I realized:

“This will never end.”

The Struggle to Stop

If I didn’t stop here, I would truly lose everything.

But even with that realization, I couldn’t move right away.

Because I desperately wanted to get back the money I had already paid.
That feeling wouldn’t disappear.

I couldn’t give up.

Not yet.

End of Episode 6 – Part 2

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A Sense of Wrongness (1) — “Something Is Off”

The Balance Kept Rising

The numbers in the account kept going up.

And yet—

I couldn’t withdraw a single yen.

At first, I thought it was just a procedural issue.
“Verification is required.” “We need to confirm your funds.”

It sounded reasonable enough. So, I accepted it without questioning.

A Growing Sense of Doubt

However, a sense of discomfort slowly began to build.

I had transferred money multiple times. Yet, not once had I been able to withdraw anything.

Each time, a new reason appeared. A new explanation. A new requirement.

The “Tax” Request

Then one day, an email arrived.

“You need to pay taxes.”

The amount was far beyond anything normal. For a moment, I couldn’t understand what I was reading.

Do you pay taxes to a securities company?
Why would taxes be a condition for withdrawal?

The First Real Suspicion

At that moment, a quiet voice inside me started to speak.

“This is strange.”

That was the moment the doubt truly began.

I had no idea how deep this situation would go.

End of Episode 6 – Part 1

← Back to Episode 5(Part 2)

→ Continue to Episode 6 (Part 2)

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The Additional Investment That Became Irreversible

The procedure for adding more funds was the same as before.

I simply followed the instructions sent via LINE and made the transfer. That was all.

But this time, the instructions came directly from someone claiming to be a “representative” of the securities company.

The bank account they sent me was a Japanese bank account— and not under a corporate name, but an individual’s name.

For a moment, something felt off.

“Why is it a personal account if it’s a securities company?”

But I didn’t think any further. The flow of events up to that point had already numbed my sense of danger.

After completing the transfer, I suddenly wondered:

“Can I really withdraw my money?”

To test it, I requested a withdrawal of several hundred thousand yen.

The reply came:

“Large withdrawals take time to process.” “Small amounts can be handled the same day.”

So I requested a small withdrawal.

And indeed— the money arrived in my bank account that same day.

In that moment, almost all of my doubts disappeared.

“I can withdraw properly.”

That single fact made everything feel legitimate.

Looking back now, I realize it was all a performance designed to gain my trust.

Once the deposit was confirmed, trading resumed immediately. I followed the uncle’s instructions, and the results were the same as before:

Profits appeared.

The numbers on the screen kept increasing. That erased any remaining suspicion.

Around that time, she also sent messages:

“I made a profit of 20,000 dollars today.”

I was shocked—and impressed.

Then she asked:

“How was your result today?”

I told her mine, and she replied:

“That’s good.” “It’s going smoothly.”

Before I knew it, this exchange had become part of my daily routine.

Looking back now, I realize:

I was being manipulated—subtly, skillfully.

By comparing my results with hers, I wanted to earn more. I didn’t want to fall behind.

Without noticing, I had been drawn into a competition.

At that point, I was no longer “investing.” I was competing.

“I knew it was safe.” Or maybe I just wanted to believe that.

She also sent reassuring messages:

“That’s great.” “Now you can feel at ease.”

I trusted her completely.

But in reality, I had already stepped into the next stage— a flow I could no longer reverse.

Once I increased my funds, the hurdle for the next step became lower.

“Maybe just one more time…”

That feeling arose naturally.

Once people experience success, they try to repeat it. That dulls their judgment.

And right at that timing, another suggestion arrived:

“Next, we can aim even higher.”

Those words became the decisive push.

At that time, I had no idea where I was heading.

But one thing was certain:

I had already entered a flow I could no longer escape.

End of Episode 5 – Part 2

→ Continues to Episode 6

If You Increase Your Funds a Little More, You Can Earn Even More

When my “uncle” said those words, they sounded like a completely natural suggestion.

Up to that point, every trade had gone smoothly. If I followed their instructions, profits appeared. That track record had already reshaped my judgment.

“Now is the chance.” “The more capital you have, the more advantageous it becomes.”

Hearing that, I felt it made sense.

To be honest, I did feel uneasy. Increasing the investment amount made me nervous. Was it really safe?

But at the same time, another feeling grew stronger:

“It would be a waste to stop now.”

I had already accumulated profits. Maybe I could grow them even further. And above all, I trusted her and the “uncle” who had guided me this far.

She also sent messages:

“Please don’t push yourself.” “But I think this opportunity is a good one.”

Her words didn’t feel forceful. If anything, they felt considerate. That made me feel safe.

So I decided:

“I’ll increase it just a little.”

At the time, I believed I was still making rational decisions. But looking back now, my judgment had already been distorted.

There was a sense of discomfort. But instead of facing it, I chose to follow my expectations.

End of Episode 5 – Part 1

→ Continues to Part 2

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My First Conversation With Her “Uncle” — The Beginning of the Investment Trap

One day, she told me she had spoken with her uncle about me.
“He said he can give you some advice,” she wrote. “If you want, I can introduce you.”

Her tone was casual, almost hesitant, as if she didn’t want to pressure me.
But because I trusted her, I agreed without much thought.

Soon after, her uncle contacted me on LINE.
His messages were polite, professional, and reassuring. He introduced himself as someone with long experience in investment and said he was willing to guide me step by step. His manner was calm and confident — the kind of presence that makes you feel safe.

He explained the market situation and suggested that now was a good time to start.
He recommended using MT5 and guided me through the setup process. Everything went smoothly, and I felt no reason to doubt him.

Then came the first trade.
Under his instructions, I followed the steps exactly as he described.
Within minutes, the numbers on the screen showed a profit.

I was surprised — and relieved.
The result made me believe that he truly knew what he was doing.
Any remaining suspicion disappeared.

He then said,
“If you increase your capital a little, you can earn even more.”

It sounded reasonable at the time.
I didn’t realize that this was the moment when the trap quietly closed around me.

←Back to Episode 4 (Part 1)

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A Hong Kong Woman’s Family Stories and the First Hint of Investment

I often heard stories about her family.
Whenever we talked, she would naturally bring up her mother, her relatives, and the life she wished she could live with them. She said she lived in Hong Kong, working long hours, and that her mother was getting older. Her dream, she told me, was to spend more time with her and take better care of her.

Her messages were warm and gentle.
She spoke about her daily routine, her responsibilities, and the pressure she felt at work. But she always returned to the same theme — family. She described her mother as someone she deeply respected, and she often mentioned how grateful she was for the support she received from her relatives.

Among those relatives, one person appeared repeatedly: her uncle.
She said he was knowledgeable about economics and had been successful in investment for many years. According to her, he was the one who guided the family financially and emotionally. She spoke of him with admiration, almost as if he were a mentor.

At the time, I didn’t think much of it.
Her stories felt sincere, and I believed she was simply sharing her life with me. But looking back now, I can see how naturally the conversation was shifting — slowly, gently — toward the topic of investment.

It didn’t feel like a sales pitch.
It felt like someone confiding in me, telling me about the people who shaped her life. And that made it easy to trust her.

I didn’t realize it then, but this was the beginning of the next stage.

←Back to Episode 3(Part2)

→Continue to Episode 4(Part 2)

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