Today's Close-Up S2024E30 - Realty Fraud Targeting Seniors: How to Avoid Scam Sales Deals

According to the latest government estimate, the number of elderly people in Japan with dementia is over 4.7 million, but it's believed many more are yet to be diagnosed. They are now becoming easy game for real estate scammers. In June, four employees of a realtor were arrested for allegedly selling apartments at grossly inflated prices to two elderly women with dementia. An NHK investigation has found that at least 61 other people have also been persuaded to buy apartments by the same agents. They apparently showed symptoms of cognitive decline but had not received tests to diagnose dementia. Some of them were targeted by multiple other companies, armed with a range of tools from "scam lists" to instruction manuals designed to make them buy worthless land at unrealistically high prices. Our investigation looks into a darkness that runs rampant in a society where the number of people living with dementia and its precursors is on the rise.

Guest:
Komamura Kohei (Professor, Keio University)