This altered image provided by a related source shows a Twitter account believed to have been used by the suspect to approach victims. Social media accounts were reportedly operated to "gather customers."

       NAGOYA -- A 22-year-old former member of a Japanese boy band has been arrested on suspicion of swindling cash from a woman in her 20s as a "deposit" for the opportunity to "meet idol group members."

       A string of similar cases has been seen in Aichi Prefecture and the Kanto region around Tokyo since April.

       Aichi Prefectural Police on Sept. 6 arrested former celebrity Ayumu Kuroda, who lives in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward and was a member of idol group Junon Superboy Anothers, on suspicion of fraud.

       Kuroda is specifically accused of inviting a 21-year-old university student from the Aichi Prefecture city of Toyokawa, whom he met on social media, to Tokyo, saying he would arrange for her to meet members of an all-boy idol group. Telling the student that "it's necessary to solve problems in the event of a scandal," Kuroda allegedly took her around to six financial firms including consumer finance companies, getting her to hand over 1.69 million yen (roughly $15,400) in cash.

       Former idol Ayumu Kuroda is seen in this image provided by a related source.

       Another 23-year-old woman in Tokyo claims she was conned into giving 1.08 million yen (approx. $9,860) in cash to Kuroda.

       "A man who approached me saying he would let me meet a member of a Johnny's idol group, and asked me to hand over 1.5 million yen (about $13,700)," she said, referring to the famed Johnny & Associates Inc. talent agency behind some of Japan's most popular boy bands.

       She added, "When I said I didn't have that kind of money, I was introduced to Kuroda as someone 'who is good at financial dealings.' I was instructed to apply for a consumer finance loan, and told, 'If you tell the loan company that you got pregnant and need money for an abortion, you can pass the screening.'"

       The woman reportedly met Kuroda at a cafe in the morning, and handed over the cash after about three hours. During this time, the man who had approached her apparently called her to say, "I'm going to pay the money directly to them (the Johnny's member)," and then, "I'll pay in advance, so please give Kuroda the money" in rapid secession -- leaving her no time to think.

       After that, the woman lost contact with Kuroda and the man, and realized that she had been swindled. She says she believed the two men's story after they showed her a popular actor's schedule, and met a former celebrity at a party they invited her to. She has since been diagnosed with depression due to the shock of taking on so much debt.

       It was through social media including Twitter and Instagram that the victims including the university student met Kuroda.

       Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa pointed out, "Many young people are becoming dependent on the internet, as the coronavirus has made part-time work unavailable and they are spending more time at home."

       He added that he believes the victims "may have let down their guard over time after regular exposure to various information capable of capturing the hearts of fans, including information of uncertain authenticity."

       (Japanese original by Kenichiro Fuji and Ayaka Morita, Nagoya News Center)

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