7 common tourist scams in Japan: How to recognize them and tips to avoid falling victim

Japan is widely known for its safety and the kindness of its people, with most visitors having a positive experience. However, just like anywhere else, scams do happen, and tourists can be easy targets. While the elderly Japanese population is often the most common victim, travelers aren’t immune either. Here are some of the most common tourist scams in Japan.

1. Man From Belgium ‘Needs Help Getting Home’
2. Tinder Scams in Japan
3. Korean Coin Scam
4. Fake Monk Scams
5. Grandma Skimming Off The Top
6. Don’t Trust Touts
7. Bottakuri Bars

Man From Belgium ‘Needs Help Getting Home’

One scammer has gained notoriety across Japanese Twitter and Japan-related subreddits. He’s described as a tall man with a European accent, often going by the name “Marc” (sometimes “Alex”), claiming to be from Belgium. His strategy involves boarding busy train lines, like the Chuo or Keikyu lines, and walking through the cars, showing passengers a message translated on his phone.

The message typically says he’s out of money or has lost his wallet and needs funds to get to the airport. He holds his phone right in people’s faces, asking for money. If ignored or refused, he moves on to the next potential target. Although it sounds like a long shot, Marc seems to be quite persistent. He’s reportedly been doing this for a while, with stories of sightings shared frequently, not just in Tokyo and Osaka but even in Seoul, Korea. Witnesses describe him as wearing the same black clothes, a worn-out hat and a black face mask, making him easy to identify.

The Man In Black

One Reddit user, Maplemarble, recalled:

“Oh my gosh! This happened to me back in March; I actually took a short video of him moving onto another passenger after I rejected him because I got such bad, aggressive vibes…I got quite creeped out by him, and I think he targets solo JP women in particular.”

Another Reddit user, Choice_Vegetable557, encountered Alex:

“Saw him on the Keikyu a month ago. I called him a scammer to his face, and he got off at Mita. He was doing the routine with Google translate, finding women who were alone on the train…Offensive BO as well.”

Theories abound as to whether this scam is a coordinated effort involving multiple people or just one very committed individual. Still, the descriptions and photos circulating always point to the same man. Women especially seem to be his primary targets. If you come across someone like this, it’s best to keep your distance and avoid engaging.

Tinder Scams in Japan

Dating is a nightmare, and meeting genuine people in person is hard enough, which is why many of us turn to dating apps like Tinder. Unfortunately, Tinder in Japan is awful. Amidst a sea of profile pictures featuring sunsets, food or the back of someone’s head, it can be tough even to get a response.

The scams typically follow a similar script: a “girl” on Tinder invites you to meet somewhere in Japan, often being vague with the details. Excited to finally have a date lined up, guys head over, only to have the situation turn shady. Suddenly, the girl gets cold feet and insists that she’ll only meet if you buy a gift card, like a V-Preca (a prepaid card available at convenience stores), and send her the code.

It can be tempting for the desperate or hopeful to follow through. Unfortunately, once the gift card code is sent, the scammer vanishes, leaving the victim ghosted and out of cash.

You might wonder why anyone would consider paying for a date in the first place. The reality is that many of these victims believe they are negotiating with sex workers they met on Tinder. In some cases, the scammer spins a sob story, but more often, it’s about trying to arrange a paid encounter.

By the time they realize the “girl” won’t show up without a gift card, some have already invested time and travel, thinking, Well, I’ve come this far. After getting ghosted, they end up embarrassingly posting on Reddit for advice on how to cancel or return their useless V-Preca gift card.

Korean Coin Scam

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