TOKYO —

Police on Tuesday arrested three men and a woman for allegedly blackmailing a man who dated the woman after meeting her through an online dating service in Ikebukuro.

Hiroaki Machida, 25, Kazuki Iwase, 27, a 19-year-old youth and a 18-year-old female college student were arrested for allegedly blackmailing a 41-year-old man who arranged a date with the girl on June 25. According to police investigations, the 18-year-old girl went to a love hotel with the victim and the three men assaulted him there.

The victim paid money to them but the suspects requested more by blackmailing him after they took his business cards and family photos. Iwase was arrested by police when he showed up for the payoff. Police said Machida was the ringleader and recruited his gang online. They suspect his involvement in five similar cases so far.

14 Comments

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  rjd_jr at 11:02 AM JST - 9th July

  Crazy stuff, can't trust anyone you meet online these days, internet dating is WAY overrated.

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  Altria at 11:05 AM JST - 9th July

  Please name the site so we know where to avoid.

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  TheguyNextdoor at 11:19 AM JST - 9th July

  LOL. Funny stuff, almost comic book material.

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  Proffessor at 11:44 AM JST - 9th July

  Altria, I'd rather have them name the site so we know where to go and know exactly how to handle the situation.

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  WilliB at 11:58 AM JST - 9th July

  Nothing to do with "online", really. The same sort of ripoff existed before, via newspaper ads and telephones. Internet only makes it easier.

  I am wondering though how 3 guys could book into a love hotel room and then the couple could enter the hotel and walk into the same room.... doesn`t sound plausible from my lh experiences.

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  timeon at 12:12 PM JST - 9th July

  WilliB, don't forget the woman was an accomplice, she let the door open, or opened it for them. it's very sad that a 18 year old college student, presumably with some perspective about her future since she went to college, prefers to become a criminal. now her future looks like hostess, prostitute or the sort, since they will kick her out of college and will be difficult to find a job with her criminal record

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  bamboohat at 12:32 PM JST - 9th July

  Sounds similar to that movie "Derailed" with Clive Owen and that girl from Friends. As I recall, Clive Owen killed the ringleader in the end.

  You have to wonder how a 18 year old female college student could be convinced by people she met online to lure somebody to a hotel room for the sole purpose of assault, robbery, and blackmail. Pretty sad.

  Good thing the victim was ballsy enough to go to the cops.

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  electric2004 at 12:42 PM JST - 9th July

  Probably the 3 men were waiting outside of the hotel before they entered.

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  Addicted at 01:02 PM JST - 9th July

  Ain't this Enjokosai?!

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  Addicted at 01:02 PM JST - 9th July

  Ain't this Enjokosai?!

  scratch what i said... she's 18

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  WilliB at 08:34 PM JST - 9th July

  " don't forget the woman was an accomplice, she let the door open, or opened it for them. "

  Room doors in love hotels usually can`t be left open. (In the automated-type hotels, they are actually locked until you pay to get out). And 3 guys walking past the counter into a lh would raise eyebrows.

  There is something strange about the story. I suppose they jumped him on the way to the hotel, but the article doesn`t say that.

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  SiouxGirl at 11:04 AM JST - 10th July

  Would the clerk really raise his/her eyebrows at having 3 men and 1 woman check in? What business is it of theirs what kind of party their guests want to have? The men hide in the bathroom, closet or under the bed (I'd like to see them somewhere cramped); she takes the key, meets Mr. Cheating Husband, takes him back to the room - now this would be the point where front desk clerk would raise his/her eyebrows - she's bringing a 4th man into the hotel. If the clerk has seen it all, maybe that wouldn't raise an eyebrow. Oh, well. Different day, new crime.

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  WilliB at 12:10 AM JST - 11th July

  SiouxGirl:

  " Would the clerk really raise his/her eyebrows at having 3 men and 1 woman check in? "

  Actually, they kind of wood. Not to talk about the victim... you are telling us he checked in with 3 guys and did not give it a second thought? Hahaha

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  WilliB at 12:13 AM JST - 11th July

  " she takes the key, meets Mr. Cheating Husband, takes him back to the room "

  That is not how love hotels work. There is no key -- once you leave, you are out. You are thinking about a normal hotel.

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