Interest

Postal Worker Uses IDOLM@STER Alias to Commit Fraud

In late March, the postal worker Kazuki Kasai was arrested for theft and abusing his position to commit mail fraud. He used several aliases in his crimes, including "Hibiki Ganaha" — an iDOLM@STER character.

Kasai worked at the Kyoto Central Post Office, where he was in charge of directing parcels to their proper points of delivery. He took advantage of this position to order large quantities of gift tickets on commercial websites under fake names and addresses and using the software Tor to conceal his location. He used speedy delivery and timed his purchases to make sure they would arrive at the post office while he was at work. He would then hide the parcels he had ordered when no one was looking, and dismantled the cardboard packaging in the bathroom or when no one was around — hiding the pieces, and the gift tickets, in his clothes.

Kasai used more than ten aliases and stole 28 parcels worth 8.14 million yen ($74,841). When questioned by the police, Kasai said he wanted to pay back 3 million yen ($27,600) worth of scholarship and credit card debt. Yet his parcels also contained items like high-quality earphones and a music player.

A Fukuoka man also turned to anime as a source of inspiration for his shenanigans.

[Via Sankei West; Image from Tumblr]