![\"Shinjuku](\"https:\/\/www.you.co\/en-SG\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/albert-dera-326567-unsplash.jpg\")
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On my last day in Tokyo, my business meetings ended earlier than expected. My flight back to Singapore was set for next afternoon, so I still had about 20 hours to myself.<\/p>\n
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They say no trip to Japan is complete without visiting the colourful Shinjuku \u2013 the vibrant center of entertainment, and also the cozy Izakayas<\/em>\u00a0(gastropubs) in the narrow alleyways. A quick Google search later, I found Omoide Yokocho<\/em>, one of the most popular Izakayas<\/em> that\u2019s just across Shinjuku\u2019s West Exit.<\/p>\n Little did I know that was where my troubles would brew.<\/p>\n After a quick nap at the hotel and an inexpensive bento dinner, I strolled to the famed narrow alleyway and was treated to a sight of rustic, traditional shops. White kanji<\/em> signs and red lanterns illuminated the wooden and bamboo shop fronts, as rain started to drizzle lightly into the alley.<\/p>\n I was already onto my second bar, enjoying the same warm hospitality by the tiny gastropub owners. By my third highball, a group of young Japanese men and women, in distinctive white shirts and black bottoms, sauntered into the homely gastropub, faces flushed from laughter (and probably alcohol too).<\/p>\n The lively bunch sat two seats away, engrossed in their afterwork chatter. It wasn\u2019t long before one attempted to converse with me.<\/p>\n Surprisingly, they spoke in fluent English, despite a distinct Japanese accent, and asked if I would like to join them in a drinking game, because they were short for an even number. They seemed to be a dynamic but modest bunch, and the night is still young, so why not? I gladly obliged.<\/p>\n We hit off pretty well, and it turned out some of them had worked in Singapore before, so we had a fun time chatting about delicacy favourites. After a few rounds of games, they suggested a \u201cbigger bar few streets down<\/em>\u201d. Though already tipsy, I was interested to explore more of the local bar scene, so we set off.<\/p>\n And they were right. The new place, in contrast, was big and shiny, but it had a dancefloor \u2013 it\u2019s definitely a club, not a bar. Despite its sleek deco, the underground club was unusually sparse.<\/p>\n Maybe it wasn\u2019t the time of the night for parties yet?<\/p>\n The group then offered me two shots from the counter, insisting something along the lines of \u201cit\u2019s for you<\/em>\u201d. I couldn\u2019t quite make out what they were saying exactly with the thumping music, but they were cheering me on excitedly.<\/p>\n \u201cShots! Shots! Shots! Shots!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Two shots never hurt anybody, so I downed all of it.<\/p>\n Shortly after we took our seats in a booth, a staff came up with a bill of JPY \u00a517,000 (approximately SGD $200), stating that it was for the two shots. Confused, I sought the help of my new Japanese friends.<\/p>\n They stared at me, while uttering Japanese phrases that I couldn\u2019t understand. Was I drunk beyond comprehension? Or did they just lose their ability to speak English?<\/p>\n My consciousness slumped as I tried to make sense of the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cPay! Pay!<\/em>\u201d the staff demanded.<\/p>\n Sensing things were amiss, I propped myself up and trailed after him to the counter.<\/p>\n One second my head felt like it was being squeezed by a tightening band, and the other a hammer pounding against the insides of my skull.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t want any trouble, especially not with this crushing headache.\u00a0Retaliation was definitely out of the question, I wouldn’t want to get jumped by anyone in a foreign land.<\/p>\n My best bet was to pay the extortionate shots and get out of there quickly.<\/p>\n Once at the counter, I handed my credit card over out of habit.<\/p>\n What did I get myself into? 200 dollars for 2 shots? And why do I feel so nauseous?<\/p>\n My throbbing head was spinning in and out of awareness. The reverberating music only made things worse.<\/p>\n \u201cCard no good.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCard no good, declined.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He returned my card and requested for cash. Card declined? Dang, have I hit my spending limits already?<\/p>\n Fumbling through my pockets, I felt a sense of relief that I still had some Japanese yen on me.<\/p>\n After what seemed to be an eternity, I managed to salvage JPY \u00a517,000 and passed them over carefully. He inspected the notes briskly, and signalled an \u2018ok\u2019 to me. I stumbled out of the club and onto the streets. All I wanted was to lie down and get rid of this splitting headache.<\/p>\n I woke up slightly past seven, still feeling sluggish from last night\u2019s episode. After a quick shower and light hotel breakfast, I made my way to Haneda Airport and boarded my 11am flight smoothly.<\/p>\n The next seven hours were occupied by me bothering the stewards for orange juice every 30 minutes, as I desperately needed a supply of zest to soothe my migraine. But apart from that, the flight was rather quiet. Some two movies later, we landed in Singapore.<\/p>\n I thought nothing of the incident last night, and was grateful for this uneventful day \u2013 but boy was I going to be in for a rude awakening…<\/p>\n Upon reactivating my local mobile card, I was bombarded by a slew of text messages, the usual card expenditure notices, but one immediately caught my attention.<\/p>\n \u201cA txn of SGD9,032.54\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Wait, what? 9,000 dollars? DOLLARS?<\/p>\n I stood frozen on the travelator.<\/p>\n What did I buy\u2026?<\/p>\n \u201c…on 28 NOV 22:02 SG time. If unauthorised, call\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n That was last night\u2026 I think? The bar? The club?<\/p>\n Oh God.<\/p>\n I was thrown onto a rollercoaster of emotions \u2013 shock, confusion, anger, as my heart started to pound and my ears were almost ringing. I felt sick to my stomach, and instantly regretted having that much OJ onboard. Now I could almost taste them again in my mouth.<\/p>\n The card wasn\u2019t rejected at the club.<\/p>\n It was swiped. Decisively.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n My next few days were spent disputing the charges over the phone. The bank was quick to assist my case, but due to the large transaction amount, they also forewarned that it\u2019s highly unlikely that I\u2019d be successful with the dispute. Nonetheless, I still called everyday for updates, hoping that the chargeback would go through.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been more than a month since the night in Shinjuku, but I\u2019m still pretty bummed about it. Not just because I\u2019d probably never see the money again, but the fact that I could have avoided all the trouble if I had been vigilant \u2013 just as I should be on every overseas trip.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve ridiculed my friends for falling for scams throughout their travels, but hell, I don\u2019t think anyone would top my $9,000 for two shots for a long time to come.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n General Reminders from YouTrip:<\/strong> Have an unusual travel story? Drop a note to editorial@you.co<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and we’ll<\/em>\u00a0interview you!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read:\u00a0Fake Foreign Currencies & How to Avoid Them<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Read:\u00a05 Biggest Overseas Money Headaches<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Shinjuku](\"https:\/\/www.you.co\/en-SG\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/ramon-kagie-1147013-unsplash.jpg\")
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\nThe Lure<\/b><\/h3>\n![\"Shinjuku](\"https:\/\/www.you.co\/en-SG\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/sergio-alves-santos-651676-unsplash.jpg\")
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\nDizzy Spells<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\n![\"Shinjuku](\"https:\/\/www.you.co\/en-SG\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/benjamin-hung-340392-unsplash.jpg\")
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\nWelcome Home (or Hell)<\/b><\/h3>\n![\"Plane](\"https:\/\/www.you.co\/en-SG\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/01\/pexels-photo-219014.jpeg\")
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\n1.\u00a0 Avoid putting yourself in unpredictable situations.
\n2.\u00a0 Ask for a void receipt when a merchant claims that a transaction has been declined.
\n3.\u00a0 Set an overseas spending limit on your debit or credit card before you travel.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.you.co\/en-SG\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/12\/6_728-x-90.jpg\")
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