Japan (JP)
Japan is one of the world's most captivating destinations for expats — a country where ancient temple culture and ultra-modern technology coexist seamlessly.
Scam Warnings
Common scams targeting expats in Japan.
Japan is one of the world's safest countries for street crime, but it has a severe and worsening financial fraud problem. The National Police Agency (NPA) recorded ¥324.1 billion ($2.1 billion) in fraud losses in 2025 — a record high, nearly doubling year-on-year. "Fake police" impersonation scams drove the majority of losses, while investment fraud via social media and cryptocurrency romance schemes surged. Golden rules: never transfer money on an urgent phone call, always verify financial firms at fsa.go.jp, and call family on their own known number before acting on any emergency claim.
Furikome sagī (振り込め詐欺) / Nise keisatsu sagī (偽警察詐欺) — Fake Police & Bank Transfer Fraud
criticalJapan's most damaging fraud category. In 2025 "fake police" scams (nise keisatsu sagī) accounted for 10,936 cases and approximately ¥98.54 billion in losses — nearly a third of all national fraud losses. A caller impersonates a police officer, prosecutor, or court official and claims the victim is implicated in money laundering or crime. Separately, the classic "ore ore" variant has a caller say "it's me!" without giving a name; the victim assumes it is their child or grandchild in trouble and is instructed to transfer cash immediately to an unfamiliar account. Banks now have elderly-protection protocols and staff may intervene — cooperate with them.
- - Unexpected urgent call from someone claiming to be a family member in trouble, a police officer, or a prosecutor
- - Caller asks for an immediate bank transfer or cash handover to a courier — no legitimate authority does this
- - Caller instructs you not to tell other family members or friends about the call
- - Call comes from an unfamiliar number despite the caller claiming to be someone you know
- - Any request to verify your "safety" by transferring money to a "safe account"
Social media investment fraud (SNS投資詐欺)
criticalJapan's fastest-growing fraud category in 2025. Scammers contact targets via Instagram, LINE, Facebook, or dating apps posing as successful investors or financial advisors. They introduce high-yield investment platforms — typically fake cryptocurrency or FX trading portals — where small initial deposits show fabricated profits, encouraging larger investments. In early 2025, fraudulent trades through hijacked brokerage accounts reached ¥620.5 billion across 3,312 incidents, a tenfold increase within months. Losses per victim can reach ¥10 million or more.
- - Unsolicited contact via social media or dating app from someone presenting themselves as a successful trader or investor
- - Guaranteed high returns — any promise of 5%+ monthly returns is a red flag
- - Pressure to invest quickly before "the opportunity closes" or a "limited spot" is lost
- - The investment platform or firm cannot be found in the FSA registration database at fsa.go.jp
- - Initial small withdrawals work (to build trust), then withdrawals are blocked or require additional "tax" or "unlock fee" payments
Fake rental listings (偽の賃貸広告)
criticalFraudulent rental listings posted on social media and English-language expat groups (Facebook, LINE communities, GaijinPot forums) showing attractive apartments at prices 30%+ below market. After expressing interest, the "landlord" claims to be overseas and asks for a deposit transfer before any viewing. Once transferred, the person disappears and the apartment does not exist or belongs to someone else.
- - Price is 30% or more below comparable apartments in the same area and building type
- - Landlord claims to be overseas or unable to meet in person for any reason
- - Requests a deposit or advance payment before any viewing or contract signing
- - Only contactable by email, SNS message, or messaging app — no phone number or physical office
- - Refuses to direct you to a licensed real estate agency (fudōsan-ya) — standard practice in Japan
Romance and pig-butchering scam (ロマンス詐欺 / SHA ZHU PAN)
warningFraudsters create fake profiles on Tinder, Pairs, Bumble, or Instagram and invest weeks building a relationship before introducing a "lucrative investment opportunity" or requesting financial help with a fabricated emergency. This industrialised version — known internationally as "pig butchering" — typically routes victims into fake cryptocurrency trading platforms. Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency has issued repeated warnings as reported losses grew significantly in 2024–2025.
- - Profile photos look too polished — professional-quality images with an unusually convenient life story
- - Contact moves quickly off the original dating platform to LINE or WhatsApp
- - Person is never available for an in-person meeting or a live video call with their face clearly visible
- - After building trust over weeks, they mention a "great investment opportunity" or have an emergency requiring money
- - Stories about being a wealthy trader who wants to share their method, or being stuck abroad with a medical emergency
Religious organisation / high-pressure spiritual sales (霊感商法)
warningIndividuals are invited to free events, workshops, or language exchanges that gradually reveal a religious or ideological component. High-pressure sales of expensive items — stones, pottery, artwork — are presented as having spiritual power to protect the buyer. Victims may spend hundreds of thousands of yen. This became a major national issue following revelations about specific organisations targeting bereaved or vulnerable individuals, prompting legal reforms in 2023.
- - Invited to a free seminar, language exchange, or social event that gradually introduces religious or spiritual content
- - Told that your ancestors or "spiritual bad luck" is causing your problems
- - Pressured to buy expensive objects or make large donations for spiritual protection or good fortune
- - Discouraged from discussing the group or its teachings with friends or family
- - Meetings become more frequent and financial commitment requests escalate
Fake job offers and talent scout scams (偽の求人詐欺)
warningYoung foreigners are approached on the street near popular areas or via Instagram with offers to model, act, or work in "entertainment." The actual job is often at a hostess or host club (キャバクラ) misrepresented as legitimate entertainment work. Some cases involve debt bondage or human trafficking. Also targets those seeking English teaching (eikaiwa) positions at illegitimate language schools that charge upfront fees.
- - Approached on the street with an immediate "talent scout" or modelling offer
- - Job offer seems unusually easy or well-paid relative to the skills described
- - Required to pay upfront fees or training costs before starting
- - Vague description of the actual job when you ask directly
- - Work involves a "bar," "club," or "entertainment" venue without clear, documented terms
Overpriced eikaiwa / language lesson contracts (英会話教室詐欺)
warningAggressive street or telephone sales of multi-year English or language lesson packages at inflated prices. Contracts can cost ¥300,000–1,500,000 for packages with unclear or undeliverable value. Targets people who feel their language skills need urgent improvement for career advancement.
- - Approached on the street or called about English lessons with an immediate offer
- - Pressure to sign a multi-year contract on the first meeting
- - Discounts are available "today only" — urgency tactics to prevent comparison shopping
- - Any contract exceeding ¥500,000 on a first meeting should prompt extreme caution
Phishing and authority impersonation (フィッシング詐欺)
warningEmails, SMS, or LINE messages impersonating Japan Post, Amazon Japan, credit card companies, the National Tax Agency, or banks claiming your account has been suspended or a package cannot be delivered. Links lead to convincing fake websites that harvest login credentials or credit card details.
- - Urgency language: "Your account will be suspended within 24 hours unless you verify"
- - Links that do not match the official domain (e.g. amazon.co.jp becomes amazon-jp-security.xyz)
- - SMS from unknown numbers about a package that requires urgent customs or delivery fees
- - Requests to "re-enter" or "verify" login credentials or card details
- - Awkward Japanese phrasing that appears machine-translated
Unlicensed money exchange and cryptocurrency fraud (無登録両替・暗号資産詐欺)
infoOffers of favourable exchange rates for person-to-person currency conversion, or access to exclusive cryptocurrency or NFT investment opportunities through unregistered platforms. Many cryptocurrency investment schemes are Ponzi structures; unlicensed money exchange services may also be fronts for money laundering.
- - Exchange rates significantly better than established providers such as licensed banks or Wise
- - Cryptocurrency "opportunity" introduced by a social media contact or someone met recently
- - Request to exchange currency person-to-person rather than through a registered institution
- - Platform is not registered with the FSA (verify at fsa.go.jp)
Reporting
Where to report: Police emergency: 110. Fire/ambulance: 119. Consumer Hotline: 188 (routes to your nearest Consumer Life Centre). National Consumer Affairs Center: 0120-446-110 (free, weekdays 10:00–16:00). Financial Services Agency fraud: fsa.go.jp. NPA cybercrime counselling: npa.go.jp/bureau/cyber/soudan.html. Consumer Affairs Agency: caa.go.jp. Immigration Services Agency: 0570-013-904.
Consumer helpline: 188 — free Consumer Hotline (消費者ホットライン) connecting to your nearest Consumer Life Centre (消費生活センター), available daily. National Consumer Affairs Center: 0120-446-110 (free, weekdays 10:00–16:00). Japan has no general 14-day consumer withdrawal right — specific cooling-off periods apply by contract type under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (e.g. 8 days for door-to-door sales and language school contracts).