I'm in Japan and was tricked. Please help
 

Hi, I recently went to an expensive restaurant with a woman who marketed herself as an older, richer lady who would pay for the dinner and help me find a job. I guess first I should say, I know I made a stupid mistake. I guess I made more than one, and I realize that. So, please don't criticize me for it. I am just looking for help to make my situation right now.

So, anyway I went to a dinner, and she left without paying. I know she did leave intentionally because she left an empty laptop box in order to trick me as she supposedly went out to make a phone call and get her friend.

After waiting for a while, the restaurant closed, and the employees were asking me about payment of a huge bill. I am just a student and cannot afford this type of thing. I took out what money I did have (a little over 5000 yen), and they took 4000 of it and told me I would be able to get home with the subway. All of this was very difficult by the way because I cannot speak Japanese well at all.

Anyway, it turns out that my subway was closed already and I ended up having to walk back in the cold from a far away place. Now, they expect me to come back and pay the rest of the bill later. However, I want to go to go to the police and file a report. I did try to go to a police box, but they did not speak English. Also, my Japanese wasn't good enough to even describe my situation. I thought I could find a Japanese friend to help me, but they are all busy or can't communicate with me well enough either.

I am currently thinking that the only thing I can do is wait until Monday when an English phone number is available for the police. I can do that, but now I feel very alone and depressed. I am wondering if anyone has any advice to offer. Also, I wanted to note that I did take the empty laptop box and plan to bring it to the police for evidence.

Thank you

Damn, that sux! :mad:

I can't offer you much help, just a hug of support.
But do contact the restaurant again to see if they have securitycameras to help you add to the evidence to give to the police.

Wow, man, that's terrible.
I've never heard of something like that, but I guess there are cruel people who are willing to take advantage of people all over the world, and unfortunately, that means including Japan.

But I'm curious, you want to take this matter to the police. But what crime was committed?

I think this is a situation where you encountered a selfish woman, and just need to get past it.
She really did all that just to get a free meal? Where did you meet such a woman?

Anyways, I think you should just forget about it. Don't make it any bigger than it is.

But that's a terrible thing to have happen.

It's horrible but I think Alan X is right. You're not going to get much sympathy from the police, and whilst you're right to make them aware that such a scam might be going on, I don't think you're going to have much luck being compensated.

How much was the bill?

I am curious, where in Japan are you?

You said she "marketed herself"...where and how did you meet her?

How do you know they want you to come back and pay the bill?

How many hours were you waiting for her that the subway shut down?

What do you know about the woman that will make a call to the police worthwhile?

How much is the bill?

Thats terrible man, I just hope that you don't associate this bad woman with Japan specifically and let it taint your time here. Understand that there are people like this in every country.

I would definately try and tell the police but I'm inclined to agree with someone else that its likely to go nowhere.

What a con artist, I can't believe she left an empty laptop box to throw you off. Brilliant! Anyonee that smart deserves a free meal.

I still don't understand what's with empty laptop box? What is it's significance?

Well, a laptop is something of high value. Not just retail price, but also the data contained in it. Our police force found that out the hard way last year X|.

Hum, it is a con, but it's not fraud. She operates just under the radar of the police. Setting you up to pay for dinner suck, but it's just like dine and dash. The one who doesn't dash pays.

Well, you got her contact info, maybe you could track her down and make her pay for it. Not likely though. The only thing you can do is pay of the remaining debt I'm afraid...

It seems like she left it at the table because she would have to come back for it, therefore making the OP feel like she really is just stepping outside. Because as stated, she wouldn't just leave something high value like that around.

I think it was a very smooth move, so smooth that I'm quite positive this isn't the first time she pulled this trick.