An Australian DJ has issued a warning to tourists after his drink was spiked and $10,000 stolen from his bank account while performing in Tokyo. Robert Bregnsdal, a progressive trance DJ from Melbourne, travelled to Japan on September 7 to play at OR, a venue in Shibuya City. What began as a career opportunity turned into a nightmare after he was lured into a common tourist trap.
Bregnsdal claims his drink was spiked at a bar, leaving him unconscious for hours while staff and patrons acted 'like I wasn't even there'. He later discovered his bank card had been stolen and $10,000 drained from his account. Despite reporting the incident, he says both the bar and local police 'shrugged him off', even though drink spiking leading to credit card fraud has been widely reported in recent years.
The DJ said the stolen money was 'everything I had' after quitting one of his jobs to focus on music and fund upcoming events in Brisbane and Melbourne. He was only able to recover $3,000 through a fraud claim with his bank and has launched a GoFundMe to recoup the remaining $7,000. 'I've never been spiked in my life, and do not wish it on anyone,' he wrote, adding that the experience has 'completely rocked my world'.
Bregnsdal said he was left with 'no alternative choice' but to ask for help, calling it 'super embarrassing'. Without the funds, he would be forced to end his own events, Eden, which he has run for about a decade. He also noted that $4,000 of the stolen money was meant to fix his car, leaving him without transportation. He has since travelled to Europe to perform at the Amsterdam Dance Event while dealing with the financial loss.
Dozens of other tourists have reported similar incidents since the late 2000s, particularly in Tokyo's bars and nightclubs. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warns that while Japan has a low crime rate, travellers can be victims of assaults, drink spiking and card scams. The SmartTraveller website advises: 'Never leave your drink unattended and be cautious of accepting drinks from strangers or recent acquaintances.'
