Fraud at a Dispatch-Type Men's Esthetic Salon!

This is a story of how I was scammed at a dispatch-type men's esthetic salon in Ikebukuro.

That day, my work ended in the morning, and I was in Ikebukuro. After a quick lunch, I was killing time at Starbucks.

(What should I do now? I don't want to go home yet... Oh! I know! On days like today, when I have some free time, it's like the gods are telling me to indulge in some adult entertainment! But what should I do? Lately, I've only been calling delivery health services. Maybe it's time to try a men's esthetic salon again, one that will tantalize my groin... Alright! I'll call a men's esthetic salon!)

I immediately pulled out my smartphone and opened a portal site to start my search.

Hey, this place looks good.

The portal site featured a lineup of cute girls.

Hmm, but they all seem to be selfies. And there's only one photo of each girl...

They don't seem to be writing photo diaries either. I hope this is okay. Well, as long as any one of these cute girls comes, I'll be fine.

It would cost me 2,000 JPY to choose by photo, which seems like a waste...

So, I immediately called the shop.

Huh? Card payment in advance!?

"Hello, this is Ikebukuro Men's Esthetic Salon **."

"Yes, is it possible to make a reservation now?"

"Yes, which site were you looking at today?"

"I saw it on a site called **."

"I understand. Where do you plan to use the service?"

"Yes, I'm in Ikebukuro now, so I'm thinking of going to a nearby love hotel."

"A love hotel in Ikebukuro. Do you have a request for the girl?"

"No, not particularly."

"Understood. How long do you think it will take you to get there?"

"Probably about 10 or 15 minutes."

"I see. Well, we can have a girl there in about 30 minutes if we leave now."

"Understood."

"What course would you like?"

"Ah, can I decide on the course after I see the girl?"

"I'm sorry, but we ask that you decide in advance..."

"Is that so? In that case, I'll go with the 90-minute course."

"The 90-minute course. The fee will be 18,000 JPY."

"Understood. So, I just need to prepare 18,000 JPY in total, right?"

"Yes, that includes the membership fee and transportation fee, so please rest assured."

"Understood."

"Also, we have a request for our customers. Our shop requires advance card payment, so please complete the online payment by clicking the 'Card Payment Here' button in the upper right corner of our homepage."

"Huh? Can't I pay in cash?"

"No. To prevent malicious customers from making reservations and then not using our services, we ask for payment in advance."

"I see. So, there are customers who make reservations and then don't show up..."

"Yes, we've had issues with that in the past... Do you have a credit card?"

"Ah, yes, I do."

"Then, once the card payment is complete and you're in the hotel, please call us again."

"Understood."

I hung up and did as I was told, paying 18,000 JPY through the homepage's online payment system, and then walked into the hotel.

I gave them the hotel name and room number, but...

Since I had entered the hotel, I called the shop again.

"Hello, this is Ikebukuro Men's Esthetic Salon **."

"Yes, this is a PIJ Writer. I made a reservation earlier, and I'm now in room ** of the ** Hotel. I've also completed the card payment, but can you confirm it for me?"

"PIJ Writer-san, yes, we've confirmed your card payment. Thank you. We're on our way to you now, so please wait a moment."

"Understood."

I hung up and started filling the bathtub with hot water and brushed my teeth while waiting.

The girl never showed up

But...

Even after 30 minutes, and then an hour, the girl never arrived.

Worried, I called the shop again.

"Hello, this is Ikebukuro Men's Esthetic Salon **."

"Um, I'm waiting in room ** of the ** Hotel, but the girl still hasn't come..."

"PIJ Writer-san, where are you now?"

"Yes, as I said before, I'm in room ** of the ** Hotel."

"Earlier, the girl went to the room, but since you weren't there, she came back."

"No, the girl never came!"

"Yes, she did. She went to the room and knocked, but you didn't answer."

"No, no, I was definitely in the room and waiting."

"Anyway, since the girl went there, please refer to our shop's terms of use. It states that if the customer is not in the room, it will be treated as a cancellation, and no refund will be given."

"Huh? Isn't that a scam!?"

"No, she definitely went to the room."

"I was in the room and waiting."

"We will register malicious customers like you on a blacklist and refuse service in the future. If you want to go to the police, then go ahead."

"That's strange. The girl never came, so I have no choice but to go to the police."

"That's fine. Go ahead and go to the police. We did send the girl."

"Just send the girl now."

"It's impossible. There are no more girls. Please do not use our services again if you are just playing pranks."

Beep, beep, beep...

The phone was hung up.

(This is definitely a scam!)

I called again.

"Hello, this is Ikebukuro Men's Esthetic Salon **."

"You hung up. Give me back my money!"

"The girl went to the room, but you weren't there!"

"Yes, I was in the room. Give me back my money."

"We did send the girl. If you cancel, you must pay 100% of the fee!"

"If the girl didn't come, then let's talk face to face. Come here."

"Why should I go there? It doesn't make sense. Please do not call again, as it is causing trouble."

"This isn't harassment. I paid the money, and if I can't get the service, then refund me."

"The fact that you weren't in the room is a cancellation. We cannot refund. It's written on the homepage. Go to the police or wherever you like. You're on the blacklist."

Beep, beep, beep...

The phone was hung up again.

Angry, I called again.

"We are unable to take your call at the moment. Please leave your name and a brief message after the beep..."

It had switched to an answering machine.

(This is a new type of scam...)

I left the hotel and went to the police to file a report.

After that, I haven't heard anything from the police, so I don't know what happened.

Summary

How to spot a scam shop:

1. The girls' photos are selfies.
2. There's only about one photo of each girl.
3. They don't post photo diaries, or the shop staff posts on their behalf.
4. They require card payment in advance of the play.
5. A male staff member comes to the room before the play to collect the fee in cash.

Let's make sure there are no more victims like me!