Saipan Woman Sentenced to 71 Months in Prison for Bitcoin Fraud Targeting Seniors
A U.S. federal court has sentenced a 30-year-old woman from Saipan to 71 months in prison for running a Bitcoin investment fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims.
Sze Man Yu Inos, also known as “Yuki,” was convicted of wire fraud. She exploited the trust of older women to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Details of the Bitcoin Fraud Scheme
Between November 2020 and January 2022, Yuki targeted older women in Saipan and Guam. She falsely claimed to come from a wealthy Chinese family and presented herself as a successful Bitcoin investor.
She built emotional relationships with victims, often telling them “You are like my mom,” before convincing them to send her Bitcoin under false pretenses. She later expanded the scam to victims in Washington and California.
Court Sentence and Penalties
On April 27, 2026, the court ordered the following penalties:
- 71 months in federal prison
- $769,355 in restitution to victims
- $684,848 criminal forfeiture
- $200 special assessment fee
U.S. Attorney Anderson stated: “Criminals engaged in affinity fraud prey on our willingness to trust others. This defendant chose to target older women across multiple jurisdictions… The punishment imposed by the Court is well-deserved.”
Rising Crypto Fraud Concerns
This case highlights the growing problem of crypto-related scams. According to the FBI, losses from cryptocurrency fraud reached a record $11.3 billion last year, making up more than half of all internet crime losses.
