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Japan's 'Yami Baito': Youth Lured into Crime Online

1/8/2026

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Story summary
  • A new trend in Japan, 'yami baito', involves organized crime recruiting young people online for easy, high-paying jobs that often involve illegal activities.
  • Many recruits become entangled in scams, burglaries, or phone fraud.
  • They serve as foot soldiers for a larger criminal network targeting vulnerable elderly citizens.
  • The development highlights the growing intersection of technology and organized crime in Japan.