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Are More Tourists Getting Defrauded in Japan?
More tourists to Japan report getting overcharged or just plain ripped off for goods and services. Here are the most common grifts.
By Jay Allen
There’s a lot of money to be made off of Japan’s tourist boom. And not everyone is scrupulous about the methods they use to make it. As Japan sees a record number of inbound visitors, more travelers say that some businesses are fleecing them. Here are the most common scams to watch out for.
Japan scam-land
Japan has a reputation for low crime and relative safety. However, “low crime” doesn’t mean “no crime.” While violent crime is more rare, financial crimes and scams abound.
The most common scams target the elderly. The so-called “ore-ore” fraud involves criminal organizations hiring (or coercing) young people to pretend to be someone’s son and asking for money to fend off a financial emergency.
Scams are also common in Japan’s red-light districts. Tokyo’s Kabukicho is notorious for “bars” that are criminal fronts. Loudspeakers in the area particularly warn customers about people who invite them out to bars via dating…
