Police Warn of Credit Card Fraud in Roppongi

[Mulboyne]

Police are concerned about increasing complaints of credit card fraud in Roppongi, saying that they have already dealt with 100 complaints since last year. In one case, an Italian said he went to an establishment recommended by a street tout where he received a bill for 60,000 yen. He tried paying with two credit cards but was told neither had cleared so had to go to a nearby ATM to withdraw cash. When his credit card statements arrived, he discovered additional charges of 370,000 yen. He told police he was surprised that fraud was so rampant in a country which had a reputation for safety. So far, complainants have mainly been westerners but police are also worried that fraudsters may begin to target Chinese tourists.

Link (Japanese)

[Coligny]

Note for later:

Do not pay with credit cards in titi-bars...

[Mulboyne]

Italy knows a thing or two about credit card fraud.

[Coligny]

Italy knows a thing or two about fraud.

fixed 4 you...

No need to be that precise with a country as multitalented...

Side note...
How much you bet that's where they got the idea ?

[Mulboyne]

How much you bet that's where they got the idea ?

The article points out that the club was staffed by foreigners. The favoured Japanese trick is frogmarching customers to an ATM to make huge withdrawals or taking the card to do it themselves after rendering punters insensible. That makes sense in a country which still largely favours cash over cards. Japan isn't slow on the uptake in such matters so I'm sure fraudsters will adapt their tactics if it looks profitable.

Japan also adds a finesse where a rip-off club opens in a disused spot and closes down before any complaints can get investigated. Credit card fraud would suit that sort of operation because it takes more time for a statement to reach the customer. The problem would be in registering as a merchant with the card companies but I doubt that would be an insuperable obstacle.

[Greji]

The article points out that the club was staffed by foreigners.

Wow, what a relief! I was so shocked to see allegations that the wonderful innocent flower children who are blessed with the sense of umami in their four seasons were actually accused of committing a crime. It was refreshing to learn that it was really those nasty FGs at it again. I'll bet Take got a stiffy reading that.....

[Mulboyne]

The Mainichi has taken the Kyodo report for their English site. It seems I got the story round my neck. Here's the the Italian's tale:

An Italian man in his 30s who lives in Tokyo said he filed a lawsuit against two credit card firms and a restaurant in Roppongi he had never visited after receiving account statements from the firms last fall notifying him that he spent about 370,000 yen at the restaurant...According to the man, one possible lead to the fraud might be his visit to a bar in Roppongi with a friend after they were solicited by a man who appeared to be an African on a nearby street several weeks before he received the account statements.

At the bar, he and his friend had several drinks and were asked to pay about 6,000 yen. When he handed a credit card to a foreign employee, it was returned to him a few minutes later with the employee saying the card could not be used. The man then submitted another card, but it was also returned for a similar reason. He ended up going to an automated teller machine and paid the amount in cash, he said.

The bar was located a few hundred meters from the restaurant's address written on the account statements, but later disappeared, according to the Italian man.

That makes more sense, especially the fly-by-night bar which fits the usual m.o. in Japan.

[cujojpn]

Next time an African approaches me about his titty bar I will knock him out and begin the credit card fraud!!