Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
3
FBI Investigates Hannah Kobayashi’s “Green Card Marriage Scam” After New Evidence Is Found
Interview
Hannah Kobayashi, who disappeared on November 8 and has since been classified as a “voluntary” missing person, is now believed to have been involved in a green card marriage scam. Documents discovered by her mother reportedly suggested the 30-year-old may have been scammed out of money through the scheme.
The case of the Hawaiian photographer whose father tragically died by suicide during the search for her just took another significant unexpected turn.
Highlights
- Hannah Kobayashi's disappearance linked to a green card marriage scam.
- FBI joins investigation into potential secret marriage for financial gain.
- Family attorney states marriage not verified; documents turned over to FBI.
- Kobayashi declared 'voluntary' missing person after crossing into Mexico.
The FBI is now reportedly joining the ongoing investigation following Kobayashi’s mother’s discovery of a possible secret marriage for financial gain.
Kobayashi was supposedly scammed out of the proceeds of a purported immigration scheme possibly concocted by her former partner, who left Maui, Hawaii, with Kobayashi on November 8 and landed at LAX with plans to catch a connecting flight to New York City, insiders told Los Angeles Magazine on Wednesday (December 4).
RELATED:
Hannah Kobayashi disappeared on November 8 after missing her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York
Image credits: Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi
Kobayashi was reportedly on the plane with her new husband, Alan Cacace, an Argentinian man whose own girlfriend, Marianna, was also on the flight with Kobayashi’s ex, the sources told the magazine.
The possible visa scam was uncovered by Kobayashi’s mother, Brandi Yee, sources told Los Angeles Magazine.
Yee reportedly discovered immigration documents in her daughter’s home in Hawaii that listed an immigration attorney.
Image credits: Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi
An insider told the magazine: “That attorney was not cooperative with the mom.” Yee subsequently turned the documents over to the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The family’s Los Angeles attorney, Sara Azari, released a statement on social media on Wednesday clarifying on behalf of the family that they have not verified the marriage, or photos of the marriage posted by her alleged groom on his social media that have since been removed.
“We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this information,” the statement read.
She has since been classified as a “voluntary” missing person
Image credits: FOX 11 Los Angeles
It further stated: “The family has not confirmed the authenticity of the images or the accuracy of the information provided about a possible secret marriage.
“This is one of many leads we are actively investigating with the help of our attorney and investigative team.
“We would also like to confirm that we turned over the alleged information to law enforcement immediately upon receipt.”
It is now believed she’s involved in a green card marriage scam
Hannah Kobayashi is married, as is her ex-boyfriend. Here’s why I am disclosing this information:
Hannah’s family and now legal counsel has repeatedly criticized the LAPD, claiming they are dissatisfied with the investigation into her situation. Time and again, they have spoken… pic.twitter.com/3Ph45uJlIv
— SF INVESTIGATES • STEVE FISCHER (@SF_investigates) December 4, 2024
The statement concluded: “Finally, we kindly ask everyone to avoid jumping to conclusions or spreading unverified claims.
“It is especially important not to perpetuate speculation that anyone is involved in a scam, as this only hinders our efforts to find Hannah and bring clarity and closure to the nightmare we are living because of her disappearance.”
The LAPD declared Kobayashi a “voluntary missing person” after evidence showed she intentionally crossed into Mexico on November 12, days after disappearing from LAX.
“We’re just as confused and just as frustrated more than anything now,” Hannah’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, told NBC News
Image credits: NBC News
Her family’s GoFundMe campaign, which raised nearly $48,000 for search efforts and her father’s funeral, consequently drew backlash as donors demanded refunds amid revelations of her voluntary departure.
GoFundMe has since told Bored Panda in an email: “This fundraiser is verified and remains within GoFundMe’s Terms of Service at this time.
“If any donor would like to request a refund, we will honor it for them.”
Image credits: Reddit/hannahkobayashi
The fundraiser was later updated to include expenses for dad Ryan Kobayashi’s funeral. R. Kobayashi died by suicide after “tirelessly” searching for his daughter throughout Los Angeles for 13 days.
Kobayashi’s disappearance has sparked global interest with a slew of theories unveiled on social media.
Her association with the spiritual movement “Twin Flames Universe” has been particularly discussed since she was first reported missing.
The mom discovered some damning documents
Statement on Behalf of #HannahKobayashi‘s Family Re Alleged Marriage
We want to stress that the family has not publicly announced any information regarding an alleged marriage because we did not have the facts or the necessary documents to verify the legitimacy of this…— Sara Azari (@azarilaw) December 5, 2024
According to her Instagram page, the 30-year-old follows at least three accounts run by the controversial cult.
The LAPD has maintained Kobayashi has been voluntarily missing, as Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a news conference on Tuesday (December 2): “As the family is aware, late yesterday after traveling to the US-Mexico border we reviewed video surveillance from US Customs and Border Protection which clearly shows Kobayashi crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico.”
The police said their investigation will not be continuing in Mexico, Bored Panda previously reported.
Image credits: midorieve
They also acquired video footage of Kobayashi picking up her luggage from LAX on November 11 after requesting for it to be returned from New York.
Kobayashi had embarked from Maui, Hawaii, to New York City on November 8 and was planning to reunite with her aunt.
The trip had a layover at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), but Kobayashi never boarded the connecting flight to New York.
The documents suggested the 30-year-old may have been scammed out of money through the scheme
Image credits: Hannah Midori Eve Kobayashi
The last confirmed sighting of Hannah was on November 11 at the Pico Metro Station near Crypto.com Arena. She was seen with an unidentified individual, raising more questions about her safety.
Family members received disturbing texts that Sunday. Kobayashi expressed fear and mentioned threats to her identity and finances.
The family maintained that Kobayashi’s text messages didn’t sound like her at all. Her communication with them abruptly came to an end at some point.
“I mean anything is possible now that it’s getting crazier,” a reader commented
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
What do you think ?
Trista JW 2 weeks ago
It does not sound like she was ever a missing person in the first place. It just sounds like a grown-a$$ woman made some bad decisions that might or might not be impacting her life for a hell of a long time. Her father committing su!c!de is what strikes me as being strange about the whole fiasco.
Salvador Figueroa 2 weeks ago
That was my immediate reaction to this story when it broke. Yet the majority of the comments on BP here were how she was being sex trafficed. Sounds like she tried doing some shady/illegal s**t and it backfired. Maybe toss in the possibility of her having a mental crisis.
Load More Replies...
Ghostpotato 2 weeks ago
If she has gotten involved with the twin flames movement that would explain a lot. They are 100% a cult and have a history of convincing members to cut contact with their loved ones. (They could also be behind her marriage, the leaders get "divine messages" or some b******t like that and then tell people they are "twin flames" and need to pair up. There's a documentary about it on Netflix, as well as some articles, whole thing is really f****d up.)
Scott Rackley 2 weeks ago
Like if you gave the LAPD more resources it would help. They couldn't even get OJ.
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 2 weeks ago
The more info that comes out about this case, the more questions I have about the motives of Hannah/her family. The Dad has passed away, whether that's due to his own actions or the actions of others, has yet to be proven. The amount of time, money and resources that have been utilized to search for a grown woman who may or may not even be "missing" is astounding. I can understand maybe lying to your family, initially, but a quick call telling them that you're okay and you just need your space or to getaway for awhile, but you're safe, would have changed everything and her father would probably still be alive. I don't understand how someone could be that greedy or want fame/notoriety that bad, to allow this to continue, especially after losing her dad, because of her actions. I personally am not going to invest any more time into this case, and I'll wait for the Netflix/Lifetime movie to come out.
Júlia Fortes 2 weeks ago
Im confused, her husband had a girlfriend who was on the plane alongside with her ex-boyfriend? Things are so weird, she could have been scammed, she could be scamming people and she she could be running away from her family. But still, none of those options make sense. And also, people claiming the guy she was married to was part of the cartel??? A cartel in Argentina???
Trista JW 2 weeks ago
It does not sound like she was ever a missing person in the first place. It just sounds like a grown-a$$ woman made some bad decisions that might or might not be impacting her life for a hell of a long time. Her father committing su!c!de is what strikes me as being strange about the whole fiasco.
Salvador Figueroa 2 weeks ago
That was my immediate reaction to this story when it broke. Yet the majority of the comments on BP here were how she was being sex trafficed. Sounds like she tried doing some shady/illegal s**t and it backfired. Maybe toss in the possibility of her having a mental crisis.
Load More Replies... Ghostpotato 2 weeks ago
If she has gotten involved with the twin flames movement that would explain a lot. They are 100% a cult and have a history of convincing members to cut contact with their loved ones. (They could also be behind her marriage, the leaders get "divine messages" or some b******t like that and then tell people they are "twin flames" and need to pair up. There's a documentary about it on Netflix, as well as some articles, whole thing is really f****d up.)
Scott Rackley 2 weeks ago
Like if you gave the LAPD more resources it would help. They couldn't even get OJ.
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 2 weeks ago
The more info that comes out about this case, the more questions I have about the motives of Hannah/her family. The Dad has passed away, whether that's due to his own actions or the actions of others, has yet to be proven. The amount of time, money and resources that have been utilized to search for a grown woman who may or may not even be "missing" is astounding. I can understand maybe lying to your family, initially, but a quick call telling them that you're okay and you just need your space or to getaway for awhile, but you're safe, would have changed everything and her father would probably still be alive. I don't understand how someone could be that greedy or want fame/notoriety that bad, to allow this to continue, especially after losing her dad, because of her actions. I personally am not going to invest any more time into this case, and I'll wait for the Netflix/Lifetime movie to come out.
Júlia Fortes 2 weeks ago
Im confused, her husband had a girlfriend who was on the plane alongside with her ex-boyfriend? Things are so weird, she could have been scammed, she could be scamming people and she she could be running away from her family. But still, none of those options make sense. And also, people claiming the guy she was married to was part of the cartel??? A cartel in Argentina???
You May Like Case Of Woman Who Missed Connecting Flight Takes New Twist As Police Investigate Her Payments People Who Donated Money To Help Find Hannah Kobayashi Now Demand Refunds: “Return Every Cent” "Worst Sign": Cryptic Messages Sent From Phone Belonging To Woman Who Missed Connecting Flight
Karina Babenok
Donata Leskauskaite
Karina Babenok
Related on Bored Panda
7
8