Comments on: Fake Police May be Casing Foreigners, Stealing Identities

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:20:54 +0000

I would not mind the fingerprint scan at the airport if they could do away with the Thou Shalt Carry Thy Gaijin Card At All Times commandment. I’ve heard several tales of how heavy the cops can get if this commandment is broken, and while I haven’t been asked for mine by a random cop since 1991, it is still a hassle to worry about always having it.

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By: Karisu

Karisu — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:50:17 +0000

What’s your point in bringing that up? Of course they’re both ridiculous. He never said otherwise.

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By: stereo

stereo — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:20:43 +0000

They are just as outrageous as Green Cards and US VISIT in the US.

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By: folosa

folosa — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:17:17 +0000

Gaijin cards are outrageous so is the finger scan at the immigration office.

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By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:31:50 +0000

I think a “7 month gaijin” refers to someone who has been in the country for seven months, not a seven-month-old baby.

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By: LB

LB — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:20:09 +0000

You do if you are a foreigner. INS sez so. US citizens do not have to carry ID in the US, just like Japanese citizens do not have to carry ID in Japan.

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By: Level3

Level3 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:43:26 +0000

Once in a blue moon a lone policeman does rounds, from the local koban I assume. I just happened to be home when he stopped by and did what every other single Japanese person does, ignore him.
He looked pretty real, uniformed, in the door camera.

He left a pretty legitimate looking “Your local police stopped by to say “Hi”" slip in the mail slot.

But, there are these auxiliary police (or something), the ones who seem to be some kind of wannabe cop, or retired cops, who sometimes even get real-ish uniforms, and go around hassling young people and foreigners.
I’ve only been approached once by one of these types, just plainclothes with a silly cap, but when I started to basically ask “Who are you?” and act innocently confused, a real uniformed cop swooped in from a few meters away and took over, and just let me go on my way.

Wannabe cops are definitely dangerous personalities.

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By: plonk

plonk — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:31:50 +0000

I think the guy really was a cop who was doing his koban rounds and hadn`t reported to the HQ yet. If he was a scam artist it would be pretty stupid to go to each door in the building since someone would recognize he was a fkae eventually. Japanese can likely spot a fake cop easier than a 7 month gaijin dont you think?

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By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:28:07 +0000

Technically, perhaps, but they’ll get you on other charges just for being an asshole (ie standing up to them):
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/03/1449200&from=rss

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By: wow

wow — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:49:57 +0000

in the US you do not need to carry ID.

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By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:26:39 +0000

Definitely learn how to ask people if they’re cops, and if you can see a badge, in Japanese. It’s helpful in a lot of situations.

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By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:37:10 +0000

Are you allowed to sign for your land, or is it pretty rigid much like banks have become?

I still have mixed results without my hanko. Places like the gym don’t really care, but at the same time, if you don’t have a hanko at the gym, it’s harder to do direct withdrawals from your bank account.

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By: Niels

Niels — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:27:13 +0000

Quite a lot of countries require you to carry identification.
I was pissed off at first that Japan demanded it.
Then, I went and visited the US and Canada and the rules are the same.
The identification obligation to police officers also exists in most of Europe. Not just for foreigners, but for everyone of 13 years old and older.
Kids younger then 12 do not need identification.

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By: ponta

ponta — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:47:45 +0000

I think the duty to carry gaijin card make no sense.
You can identify a person in a lot of other ways.
I think it should be abolished.

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By: LRY

LRY — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:52:24 +0000

I was in Mita Station a couple months ago, and a guy in plain clothing, showed me his police badge and said he wanted to see my passport. I told him I didn’t have it and that I have lived here for 3 years. I kept saying no but finally, since I was on my way to class and he was holding me up, I showed him my gaijin card. I don’t think he was a real police officer and his excuse was that “many foreigners commit crimes.” At that time, I didn’t know my rights (I do now!) and was a little worried that I would get in trouble. Not sure if this was identity theft, but be careful in subway stations as well.

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By: James

James — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:32:34 +0000

Clearly they are stealing the identities of foreigners so they can use the personal info to apply for loans from Japanese banks and get rejected.

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By: Neil Duckett

Neil Duckett — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:06:25 +0000

I bet they only prey on girls … weak.

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By: anonymouse

anonymouse — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:00:12 +0000

The first thing that I thought when I saw this show up on my friends-list (via feed) is, “hey! You mean it happened to more than just that one girl on expats Japan yesterday?” I was surprised when I heard that you got it from there! XD;;

What’s your lj username? I assume that you have one…

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By: Joshua White

Joshua White — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:20:06 +0000

I’m not sure if Ore and Shome have any significance here but i got one: Bire Bire Scam, Kube Kube Scam!! lol

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