According to an article in the Saga Shimbun 2024/10/04, a fake telephone scam occurred in which a Chinese man in his 20s living in Ogi City was defrauded of 3 million yen.
In order to prevent foreigners residing in Japan from getting into trouble such as fraud, it is important to understand some precautions and follow them in daily life.
With different cultural and language barriers, foreigners living in Japan are particularly vulnerable to fraud and trouble. Here, we will explain points to avoid getting caught up in fraud and trouble, using specific examples of trouble.
1.Understand Japanese culture and rules
One of the major reasons why foreigners get into fraud and trouble is that they do not fully understand the local culture and rules. For example, in Japan, contracts and various rules are very detailed, and you are expected to follow them.
If you sign a contract without understanding its contents, you may be subject to unfavorable terms. In particular, oral contracts may be legally valid in Japan, so you need to be careful when making contracts.
Example 1: Trouble with expensive mobile phone contract
When a foreign student had just arrived in Japan, he was offered a mobile phone contract on the street. Due to the language barrier, he signed the contract without fully understanding the salesperson’s explanation. It was later discovered that the contract involved a very high monthly fee and required a large penalty fee to cancel.
Proceeding without understanding the terms of the contract can lead to trouble. In Japan, it is important to check the details of the contract, and if you have any doubts, it is recommended that you ask for an interpreter or have a friend or acquaintance check it before signing the contract.
2.Beware of online scams
Online fraud is a widespread problem around the world, and Japan is no exception. Foreigners are especially vulnerable to fraud because they are not familiar with Japanese fraud methods. Typical scam techniques include phishing scams and scams using fake websites. These scams aim to steal bank account and credit card information.
Example 2: Phishing email scam
One day, a foreigner living in Japan received an email pretending to be from a Japanese bank. The email included a link to update his account information and asked him to click the link and enter his personal information. Since the content of the email was in Japanese, he assumed it was a legitimate email and clicked on the link.
As a result, his bank account information was stolen by a fraud group, and money was fraudulently withdrawn from his account. These types of phishing scams often appear sophisticated, and foreigners who are unfamiliar with Japanese are especially vulnerable to becoming victims. Contact from official banks is often done through official apps or phone calls rather than email, so it’s best to ignore suspicious emails or contact his bank directly.
3.Beware of real estate scams
One of the problems foreigners often face when looking for a place to live in Japan is real estate fraud. There have been reports of people being presented with disadvantageous conditions in rental contracts or being scammed due to language barriers and cultural differences. For example, there are cases where fees such as brokerage fees and key money are unreasonably high, or cases where you are introduced to properties that do not actually exist.
Example 3: Scam where non-existent properties are introduced
When a foreign worker was looking for a place to live in Japan, he found a very cheap and ideal property on the internet. When he contacted them right away, they asked for a deposit and told him that he could go see the property after he made the payment.
After transferring the deposit, he lost contact and discovered that the property did not actually exist. Scams like this often occur online, and foreigners especially need to be careful. It’s important to be wary if you are asked to transfer a large amount of money before viewing a property and to do your research beforehand to see if the real estate agent is trustworthy.
4.Beware of fake job information
Fraudulent and exploitative employment contracts are also a risk for foreigners looking for work in Japan. Part-time jobs and contract employees are particularly likely to be targeted by foreigners who are unfamiliar with Japanese.
Fraudulent employers often impose harsh working conditions on foreign workers and fail to provide legally required minimum wages and benefits. There are also scams that provide fake employment information and steal personal information.
Example 4: Fake part-time job scam
A foreign student who was looking for a part-time job in Japan found an attractive part-time job on a recruitment website. When he applied immediately and contacted the employer, he was asked to send a copy of his residence card and passport before he could start working part-time.
The international student did as he was told and sent in his documents, but then he stopped hearing from his employer and realized that his personal information could be misused. Scams using fake job information often target identity theft, so it is important to choose a reliable job site or company when applying for a job.
5.Prepare for traffic troubles
In Japan, traffic accidents and traffic violations are some of the troubles that foreigners are likely to get into. Especially regarding the use of bicycles, Japan has many unique rules, and foreigners who do not understand these rules are likely to violate them.
In Japan, driving at night without lights or riding on pedestrian-only sidewalks is subject to fines and police enforcement. Additionally, if you are involved in an accident, you may be at a disadvantage if you do not know about Japan’s insurance system or how to deal with the police.
Example 5: Fines for bicycle traffic violations
A foreigner living in Japan was stopped by the police and fined for riding his bicycle without lights at night. This kind of trouble occurs because bicycles are treated as vehicles in Japan and must obey traffic laws. When using a bicycle, it is important to learn Japan’s traffic rules in advance and avoid violating them.
Summary
In order for foreign residents to avoid fraud and trouble in Japan, it is important to understand Japanese laws and rules and approach contracts and transactions carefully. Additionally, when it comes to troubles where foreigners are especially likely to be targeted, such as online fraud, real estate troubles, and fake job information, it is important to always be vigilant and use reliable sources of information.
In order to live a safe and comfortable life in Japan, it is important to obtain accurate information and take measures to avoid getting into trouble, with the support of people around you and experts.