Indeed, "I'm an astronaut in space and I'm running out of oxygen, and the Klingons are attacking me.
Please send money", should be taken seriously.

Certainly not humourous.

okay but objectively this is low key funny

No, we're making fun of stupid people.

After some exchanges, the scammer one day told her he was "in space on a spaceship right now" but was "under attack and in need of oxygen," the official said.

The scammer then urged her to pay him online to help him buy oxygen, and successfully hoodwinked around 1 million yen ($6,700) out of her.

It’s possible to feel empathy for the victim while still laughing at the absurdity of the overall situation. To her, I’m sure it felt very real, in a way most of us will never understand. Reading about it, though, it defies common sense.

Your English is pretty good for a Japanese octogenarian.

Who is making fun ? literally who is ?