(NewsNation) — An elderly Japanese woman lost the equivalent of nearly $7,000 to someone she thought was an endangered astronaut in space, say police, who consider the crime a romance scam.

The victim, an 80-year-old resident of Hokkaido Island, met the supposed space jockey via social media in July, authorities said. She reportedly was led to believe the astronaut for whom she had developed feelings was “under attack and in need of oxygen.”

When the scammer asked her for funds to buy oxygen, the woman reportedly sent around 1 million yen, or $6,800 in U.S. currency.

Local police say the case is an unfortunate, if typical, con against elderly victims, who are particularly vulnerable to being fooled.

"If a person you met on social media ever demanded cash from you, please be suspicious

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