A Japanese man identified as Takashi Miyagawa has been arrested for allegedly defrauding over 30 women he was dating simultaneously by lying about his birthday so he could get different birthday presents from them.
According to Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), the police revealed that the 39-year-old part-time worker’s actual birthday is November 13.
But Miyagawa, who pretended to be in a serious relationship with his victims, had told each of them entirely different dates.
He had told one of his girlfriends, aged 47, that his birthday was February 22 while he informed another, who is 40-year-old, that it is billed for July.
Miyagawa also told the third, a 35-year-old woman, that he was born in April.
The MBS report had showed loved-up photos of the suspect with women in different locations such as a park and restaurant.
Police said he has so far collected about 100,000 yen ($926) from the three women alone, all in the form of different gifts.
It added that of the 100,000 yen, 20,000 yen ($185) was reportedly in the form of electronic money while he has also received a suit worth 30,000 yen ($277).
Miyagawa’s arrest came after some of his victims teamed up in February and filed a complaint against him.
Police said the suspect leveraged on a multi-level marketing scheme focused on the sale of shower-related products to meet women and thereafter initiate a relationship with them.
Police estimated that so far 35 women had become victims of Miyagawa’s ploy.
One of the victims had narrated how the suspect had kissed her despite only meeting her twice and promised to marry her.
“I told him, ‘I don’t want to do that unless [you] are someone who wants to get married and really be with me in the future.’ He responded, ‘I’m serious. I’m going to be with you for the rest of my life,” she told MBS.
After his arrest, Miyagawa was said to have declined comment on the allegations, declaring that “I don’t want to say anything until I speak with a lawyer”.
The suspect had reportedly been charged with fraud amid an investigation into the matter.
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