Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
1. Taxi Scams
Watch out for drivers using unfamiliar routes or overcharging. Always agree on the fare before starting your journey.
- Unfamiliar Routes: Drivers may take you through longer, less-traveled roads to increase fare.
- Overcharging: Some drivers might overstate the distance or use a broken meter to charge more.
- Unlicensed Drivers: Be cautious of unlicensed taxis, which may not have meters and can be illegal.
2. Fake Tour Guides
Be wary of 'helpful' strangers offering tour services. Stick to reputable companies for guided tours.
- Unsolicited Offers: Fake guides may approach you with unsolicited offers for tours.
- Lack of Reputation: Unlicensed or unregistered guides may not have the necessary qualifications and insurance.
- Scam Tours: These tours often lead to stores where you are pressured to buy expensive goods.
3. Counterfeit Goods
Avoid purchasing counterfeit electronics, clothes, and other goods at unauthorized shops. Look for official logos and seals.
- Unauthorized Shops: Counterfeit goods may be found in shops that are not authorized to sell them.
- Lack of Quality: Counterfeits often have inferior quality and may break or fail shortly after purchase.
- Legal Consequences: Buying counterfeit goods can lead to legal trouble, especially if the goods are for resale.
4. ATM Skimming
Use ATMs in banks or well-known establishments to avoid skimming devices. Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN.
- Skimming Devices: Thieves attach tiny cameras and card readers to ATMs to steal your account information.
- Phishing Scams: Criminals may use fake banking websites or SMS messages to obtain your bank details.
- Card Cloning: Skimmed cards can be cloned and used for fraudulent transactions.
5. Bar Scams
Avoid bars that offer heavily discounted drinks or those with unclear pricing. Check the bill before leaving to avoid overcharging.
- Discounted Drinks: Bars may offer heavily discounted drinks but use watered-down alcohol or charge you more for other items.
- Unclear Pricing: Some bars may not display their prices clearly, leading to unexpected charges.
- Overcharging: When settling the bill, some bars may charge you for drinks or items that were not consumed.
6. Fraudulent Charities
Be cautious when donating to charities, especially those that approach you in the street. Research beforehand to ensure they are legitimate.
- Street Approaches: Fraudulent charities may approach you on the street to collect donations.
- Lack of Transparency: Some charities may be unclear about where the donations are going or how they will be used.
- Counterfeit Donation Boxes: Criminals may place fake donation boxes in tourist areas to collect money illegally.
7. Pickpocketing
Keep your belongings close and avoid overly crowded areas. Use a traveler's wallet or neck pouch for your valuables.
- Overly Crowded Areas: Pickpockets often target areas with large crowds, where it is easier to blend in and distract you.
- Distraction Techniques: Thieves may use distraction techniques like bumping into you or dropping something to steal your belongings.
- Valuable Items: Pickpockets are more likely to target wallets, smartphones, and cameras due to their value.
8. Internet Café Scams
Avoid using internet cafes for sensitive transactions. Use a VPN or wait until you are on a secure network to log in.
- Keyloggers: Internet cafes may have keyloggers installed, capturing your login details.
- Unsecured Networks: Sharing the same network with other users increases the risk of data breaches.
- Malware Infections: Internet cafes may be infected with malware, which can steal your personal information.
9. Street Food Scams
Choose street food stalls that have a long line of customers and clean surroundings. Avoid eating foods with open containers or uncovered ingredients.
- Long Lines: A long line of customers indicates that the food is safe to eat.
- Clean Surroundings: Clean surroundings suggest that the vendor takes food safety seriously.
- Open Containers: Food prepared in open containers can attract flies and other bacteria, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
10. Unlicensed Massage Parlors
Avoid massage parlors that do not display their licenses. Be wary of overly aggressive solicitation or low prices for services.
- Lack of License: Unlicensed massage parlors may employ unskilled masseurs and use unhygienic equipment.
- Aggressive Solicitation: Some massage parlors may be fronts for prostitution or other illegal activities.
- Low Prices: Unlicensed massage parlors often offer low prices to attract customers, but the quality of service is usually poor.
11. Fraudulent Tickets
Purchase tickets from reputable sources, such as official websites or authorized sales outlets. Be wary of cheap or last-minute deals that seem too good to be true.
- Reputable Sources: Official websites and authorized sales outlets are reliable sources for tickets.
- Cheap Deals: Fraudulent sellers may offer cheap or last-minute deals that are actually counterfeit tickets.
- Counterfeit Tickets: Counterfeit tickets can be easily spotted by poor printing, misaligned holograms, or other quality issues.
12. Shore Excursion Scams
Book shore excursions through your cruise ship or a reputable tour operator. Be cautious of unsolicited offers from street vendors.
- Unsolicited Offers: Street vendors may offer shore excursions that are either fake or overpriced.
- Lack of Reputation: Unlicensed tour operators may not have the necessary qualifications and insurance.
- Scam Excursions: These excursions often lead to stores where you are pressured to buy expensive goods.
13. Fraudulent Accommodations
Book accommodations through reputable websites or agencies. Be cautious of overly cheap deals that seem too good to be true.
- Reputable Websites: Booking.com, Expedia, and Agoda are reputable websites for finding accommodations.
- Overly Cheap Deals: Fraudulent accommodations may offer extremely low prices to attract customers, but the quality is poor.
- False Listings: Some listings may show pictures of a different property or have misleading descriptions.
14. Unsafe Taxis
Use reputable taxi services or ride-sharing apps. Be cautious of taxis without working meters, unlicensed drivers, or those refusing to use the meter.
- Reputable Services: Use licensed and reputable taxi services or ride-sharing apps like Uber.
- Working Meter: A working meter ensures that you are charged a fair price for your journey.
- Unlicensed Drivers: Unlicensed drivers may not have the necessary qualifications and insurance, posing a risk to passengers.
15. Train Station Ticket Scams
Purchase train tickets from authorized ticket windows or vending machines. Be wary of people trying to sell you counterfeit or used tickets.
- Authorized Windows: Always purchase tickets from authorized ticket windows or vending machines.
- Counterfeit Tickets: Counterfeit tickets may not be valid or have already been used, leading to travel disruptions.
- Used Tickets: Using someone else's ticket can result in fines and travel delays.