Saipan resident sentenced to 71 months for bitcoin “affinity fraud” that targeted seniors
A U.S. federal court has sentenced Sze Man Yu Inos—known as “Yuki”—to 71 months in prison after her conviction for a bitcoin-related wire fraud scheme that preyed on older women. The Department of Justice said the 30-year-old built trust with victims in Saipan and Guam between November 2020 and January 2022, then persuaded them to hand over money for purported bitcoin investments that never existed.
Prosecutors say Inos cultivated personal relationships with several victims, claiming to come from a wealthy Chinese family and boasting of successful cryptocurrency trades. She allegedly used emotional flattery—reportedly telling one victim, “You are like my mom”—to lower defenses and induce investments. Authorities also allege she later expanded the scheme to target additional victims in Washington and California and continued fraudulent activity while the case was pending.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Inos to pay $769,355 in restitution, imposed a criminal forfeiture money judgment of $684,848, and assessed a mandatory $200 fee. U.S. Attorney Anderson characterized the case as affinity fraud, where scammers exploit trust and personal ties to victimize people: “Criminals engaged in affinity fraud prey on our willingness to trust others,” he said.
The conviction underscores the ongoing risks in the crypto space: an FBI report cited by prosecutors found crypto-related fraud losses hit a record $11.3 billion last year—more than half of the $20.9 billion in total internet crime losses tracked by the agency. The case highlights how attackers can weaponize personal relationships and emotional manipulation to convert trust into illicit gains.
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