63% of Victims Seeking Help for Side-Job Scams and Online Fraud Are Women, 62% Are in Their 20s

Ryutoshindo Legal Office (Katsushika City, Tokyo; Representative Attorney: Tomotsugu Ishida) has compiled and analyzed data from fraud refund negotiations handled between April 2025 and March 2026.

The results show that 63.2% of those who sought help were women, and 62.2% were in their 20s. This reveals a serious and growing trend of online fraud—such as side-job scams and horse racing prediction scams via dating apps—disproportionately affecting young women.

Since early consultation is key to recovering lost funds, the firm is publicly releasing this data to prevent future victimization and encourage prompt reporting.

Survey Overview

### Survey Title

Ryutoshindo Legal Office Online Fraud Victim Report 2025–2026

### Survey Period

April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026 (12 months)

### Data Scope

Fraud refund negotiation cases handled by the firm

### Methodology

Data aggregated and analyzed from case records (personal information anonymized)

### Conducting Organization

Ryutoshindo Legal Office

Data ①: Gender Distribution of Consultation Seekers

Analysis of cases from April 2025 to March 2026 revealed the following gender distribution:

- Female: 63.2% - Male: 36.8%

### [Explanation]

Approximately two-thirds (63.2%) of consultation seekers were women. Most side-job scams originate via social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), which are primarily used by young women—making them especially vulnerable.

In addition to side-job scams, there has been a rise in horse racing prediction scams conducted through dating apps, where women are increasingly becoming victims. This indicates a broader trend of fraud schemes exploiting online relationships.

Data ②: Age Distribution of Consultation Seekers

The age distribution of consultation seekers is as follows, with those in their 20s forming an overwhelming majority:

- Teens: 0.8% - 20s ▶ Highest: 62.2% ★ - 30s: 13.9% - 40s: 9.1% - 50s: 7.1% - 60s: 3.4% - 70+: 3.4%

### [Explanation]

Individuals in their 20s accounted for 62.2% of all cases. Combined with those in their 30s (13.9%), people aged 20–39 make up 76.1% of total victims. This highlights that digital natives—those who routinely use the internet, social media, and dating apps—are the primary targets of online fraud.

Economic motivations such as the desire to earn extra income through side jobs, as well as the perceived closeness to strangers online, are key factors contributing to victimization.

Data ③: Gender × Age Cross-Tabulation

Cross-analysis by gender and age revealed that women in their 20s accounted for 42.3% of all cases—by far the largest group.

- Women in their 20s: 42.3% ★ - Men in their 20s: 19.9% - Women in their 30s: 8.2% - Men in their 30s: 5.7% - Women in their 40s: 6.0% - Men in their 40s: 3.1% - Women in their 50s: 2.8% - Men in their 50s: 4.3% - Women in their 60s: 2.0% - Men in their 60s: 1.4% - Women aged 70+: 1.1% - Men aged 70+: 2.3%

Total: Women 63.2%, Men 36.8%

### [Explanation]

Women in their 20s made up 42.3% of all cases, clearly indicating that side-job scams are heavily concentrated among young women. Meanwhile, men showed higher victimization rates in their 50s (4.3%) and 70+ (2.3%), reflecting the presence of middle-aged and elderly male victims in horse racing and boat racing prediction scams.

This cross-tabulation clearly shows that scam types differ significantly by gender and age group.

Supplement: Reference Data – Fraud Type Breakdown

### ■ Breakdown of Fraud Types

- Side-job scams: 40.8% (Highest; primarily via SNS and DMs) - Horse racing prediction scams (via dating apps): 38.2% (Victims meet via dating apps and are persuaded to purchase horse racing information products) - Boat racing and keirin prediction scams: 8.5% - Horse racing prediction scams (not via dating apps): 8.2% - Fake dating site scams: 1.4% - Others: 2.8%

Comment from the Representative Attorney

"Our 2025 fiscal year data clearly shows that women in their 20s account for 42.3% of all cases. We believe there are three major contributing factors:

First, the widespread use of social media. Young women are highly sensitive to trends and regularly use platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Scammers are well aware of this behavior and have significantly increased their recruitment efforts through SNS ads and direct messages promoting side jobs and information products.

Second, the growing use of dating apps. As online dating becomes more common, so do scams originating from these platforms. At our firm, we are seeing a rising number of cases where individuals met via dating apps are lured into horse racing prediction services—now the second most common type of case after side-job scams.

Third, rising living costs and anxiety about the future. Scammers exploit people’s genuine desire to earn more money or change their lives, using sweet talk like 'Want to transform your life?' to pressure them into purchasing expensive products or enrolling in high-cost courses. If victims hesitate, they are encouraged to use consumer loans or credit cards, with reassurances like 'You’ll earn it back, don’t worry.' This pattern is common across side-job scams, information product scams, high-cost course scams, and investment scams.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to make money. If something feels even slightly suspicious, please consult a professional immediately." — Attorney Tomotsugu Ishida

### ■ Profile of Commentator

- Name: Tomotsugu Ishida - Title: Representative Attorney, Ryutoshindo Legal Office - Background: Passed the Japanese Judicial Scrivener Exam in 2008. Worked at a major law firm from 2009, then founded Ryutoshindo Legal Office in 2022. Has resolved over 2,000 fraud refund cases. - Specializations: Side-job scams, information product scams, dating site scams, horse racing/keirin/boat racing prediction scams, etc.

Representative Attorney Tomotsugu Ishida

Latest Side-Job Scam Cases

### Case ①: AI Side-Job Scam (Rapidly Increasing from Late 2025)

Method: Ads appear on social media with claims like 'Fully automated AI side job, guaranteed over ¥100,000 per month.' Interested users are directed to register via LINE, then pressured to purchase a 'dedicated AI tool' for hundreds of thousands to over ¥1 million.

Many victims report that after purchasing and trying the tool, they do not earn profits as promised. The number of such cases has been rising since late 2025.

### Case ②: Dating App × Horse Racing Prediction Scam

Method: A man met through a dating app says, 'I have a good way to make money.' Later, the victim is taken to a room in a building and pressured to purchase expensive horse racing prediction software. When the victim says they don’t have money, the scammer encourages them to take out a loan from a consumer finance company, resulting in payments of around ¥900,000. After the cooling-off period expires, the scammer becomes distant and unresponsive. Despite continued use of the software, the victim does not earn money as promised and ends up at a loss.

In this dataset, 38.2% of victims were affected by similar methods.