Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan
1. Taxi Scams
Avoid overpriced taxis by using official taxi stands or apps like Hinomaru or Tokyo MK Taxi.
- Official Stands: Ensure you take a taxi from an official stand to avoid overcharging.
- Taxi Apps: Use trusted apps for pre-paid and transparent pricing.
- Avoid Street Hails: Street hailed taxis can sometimes overcharge unsuspecting tourists.
2. Counterfeit Products
Be wary of shops selling counterfeit goods, especially in crowded areas. Look for genuine items from reputable stores.
- Reputable Stores: Shop at well-known stores or malls to avoid buying fake goods.
- Quality Check: Check the quality and price of items to ensure they are genuine.
- Avoid Crowded Areas: Crowded areas may have more counterfeit sellers, so be cautious when shopping there.
3. Currency Exchange Scams
Avoid street vendors and unlicensed exchange stores. Use official exchange centers or banks for the best rates.
- Official Centers: Exchange your currency at authorized centers to get the best rates.
- Avoid Street Vendors: Street vendors may offer lower rates or provide counterfeit money.
- Banks: Banks also provide currency exchange services with competitive rates.
4. Fraudulent Guides
Be cautious when hiring guides and always research their reputation. Use licensed guides or tour companies.
- Licensed Guides: Hire licensed guides to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and credentials.
- Tour Companies: Book tours through reputable tour companies for a safer and more enjoyable experience.
- Research Reputation: Research the guide's reputation online or ask locals for recommendations.
5. ATM Skimming
Use ATMs located in well-lit and busy areas. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN to protect yourself from skimmers.
- Well-lit Areas: ATMs in well-lit locations are less likely to be tampered with.
- Busy Areas: ATMs in busy areas are more likely to be monitored by surveillance cameras.
- Cover Keypad: Cover the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent keyloggers from capturing your information.
6. Internet Café Scams
Avoid using unattended internet cafes. Use reputable establishments and be cautious of suspicious activity.
- Reputable Establishments: Choose well-known and busy internet cafes for a safer experience.
- Avoid Unattended Cafes: Unattended internet cafes may have unsecured networks or cameras, increasing the risk of theft or surveillance.
- Suspicious Activity: Be cautious if you notice any unusual activity, such as strange software installations or network issues.
7. Food Poisoning Scams
Choose restaurants with good reviews and a clean environment. Avoid street food that isn't prepared in front of you.
- Good Reviews: Check online reviews for popular restaurants to ensure they have a good reputation.
- Clean Environment: A clean and well-maintained restaurant is less likely to serve contaminated food.
- Prepared in Front of You: Street food prepared in front of you minimizes the risk of contamination or substitution.
8. Accommodation Scams
Book accommodations through reliable platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, or hotels. Check reviews and ratings to ensure quality.
- Reliable Platforms: Use reputable accommodation booking platforms for peace of mind.
- Check Reviews: Read reviews and ratings to assess the quality of the accommodation.
- Avoid Street Bookings: Street bookings can be risky, as the accommodations may not meet expectations or be safe.
9. Sim Card Scams
Purchase sim cards from official retailers or authorized vendors. Be wary of street vendors selling cheap sim cards.
- Official Retailers: Buy your sim card from official retailers to ensure it's genuine.
- Authorized Vendors: Use authorized vendors for the purchase of sim cards, such as convenience stores or mobile carrier stores.
- Avoid Street Vendors: Street vendors may sell counterfeit or malfunctioning sim cards, causing issues with service.
10. Free Gift Scams
Be wary of individuals offering free gifts or souvenirs. They may request payment or personal information in return.
- Refuse Unsolicited Offers: Avoid accepting unsolicited offers from strangers, as they could be a scam.
- Don't Provide Personal Info: Never provide personal information to unknown individuals in exchange for gifts or souvenirs.
- Verify Offers: If the offer seems too good to be true, verify it through a trusted source before accepting.
11. Lost Item Scams
Report lost items to the local police station. Be cautious if someone offers to help find your lost item for a fee or in exchange for personal information.
- Local Police Station: Contact the local police station to report lost items and get proper assistance.
- Cautious of Offers: Be cautious if someone offers help finding your lost item in exchange for money or personal information.
- Don't Provide Personal Info: Never provide personal information to strangers, especially when they claim to be helping you find a lost item.
12. Unlicensed Tourist Spots
Avoid unlicensed tourist spots. Check if attractions are registered with the Hiroshima Prefecture Tourism Association.
- Hiroshima Prefecture Tourism Association: Check if the attraction is registered with the Hiroshima Prefecture Tourism Association to ensure its legitimacy.
- Avoid Unlicensed Spots: Unlicensed tourist spots may not meet safety standards or charge excessive fees.
- Check Safety Standards: Ensure the attraction adheres to safety standards for a safe and enjoyable experience.
13. Street Performer Scams
Be cautious when donating to street performers. Some may use tricks to make you believe the donation is for a charity or cause.
- Check Legitimacy: Research the legitimacy of any charities or causes before donating.
- Avoid Suspicious Behavior: Be cautious if the performer's behavior seems suspicious, such as pressuring you to donate.
- Verify Information: Verify information provided by the street performer to ensure it is accurate and genuine.
14. Transportation Ticket Scams
Purchase transportation tickets from authorized vendors or machines. Be cautious of ticket sellers offering discounted or fake tickets.
- Authorized Vendors: Buy your transportation tickets from authorized vendors or machines to avoid scams.
- Avoid Seller Offers: Be cautious of individuals offering discounted or fake transportation tickets.
- Check Machine Validity: Ensure the ticket machine is functioning properly and connected to the transportation system.
15. Fake Charities
Be cautious when donating to charities. Research the charity's legitimacy before making a donation.
- Research Legitimacy: Research the legitimacy of any charities you are considering donating to.
- Avoid Suspicious Behavior: Be cautious if the charity's behavior seems suspicious, such as pressuring you to donate immediately.
- Check Registration: Ensure the charity is registered and recognized by the Japanese government.