GETTING THE DOUGH

When you hear the words ‘criminal mastermind’, you probably imagine some big-time con artist swindling rich people out of their millions.

But, believe it or not, those are the words used to describe a man who used soggy bread to scam people out of $320,000.

Takashi Ishimoto, then 53, was finally arrested in 2015 after years of using fake complaints about his bread purchases being soggy to trick retailers out of money – and bread. So how did he do it? First, he’d contact retailers who sold bread, and complain the loaf he had bought was soggy.

Then, he’d contact the same store again, pretending to be someone from their own head office, insisting they give the complaining customer ‘some replacement bread and all the cash they took in for the day as an apology.’

While this might not work in Australia, it certainly did in the man’s native Japan, which is known for its top-notch customer service.

It’s believed on this particular occasion when he was caught, the scammer made $3600 and was given two fresh loaves.

While it hasn’t been revealed exactly how the conman managed to convince the store he was both the customer and the big boss from head office, it’s believed he used a combination of phone numbers, emails and in-person visits.

When it was later reported to police, he was soon arrested and admitted to the charges.

Police investigated further and linked him to a series of similar cons from five years before, with the losses from his scams totalling around $320,000. ●

He’d complain that the loaf was soggy