Nepali Student Scammed in Japan

Kathmandu. A Nepali national residing in Tokyo, Japan, has defrauded dozens of students by promising them jobs. Pradip Bhatta, originally from Nuwakot and currently living in Tokyo, disappeared after collecting money from college graduates by showing them fake documents. The students who paid Bhatta are now in distress.

Bhatta had collected money from dozens of students by promising to extend their visas and arrange jobs. According to 8 Nepali students who contacted RatoPati, he charged each student 300,000 Japanese Yen by May 20th, promising working visas and jobs for students graduating from various campuses (Gakko) in Tokyo.

“He said he would find a company through a Japanese lawyer and convert us to working visas. We asked for help as he is Nepali, gave him money and documents. Instead, he cheated us. He not only took our money but ruined our future,” said a Nepali student in Tokyo.

“After we gave the documents and money required for the working visa, he insisted we had to get the work done through him, didn't give us the documents, and didn't let us apply elsewhere. With the visa expiring on the 20th, he didn't arrange work until the 19th, so we got money from Nepal through other Japanese lawyers and completed the visa process,” he said.

According to that student, many Nepali students are left penniless after graduating from college without a working visa. “After graduating from college here, we haven't been able to get work because we don't have a working visa. We haven't been able to extend our visas either. At this time, a Nepali has cheated Nepalis. If you only look at the people Pradip Bhatta has cheated, you'll find more than 20 in Tokyo alone,” he said. 

According to that student, Bhatta alone has collected over 4 million Yen from Nepali students. “He gave some friends fake documents. He not only took the money but ruined their lives,” said the student.

After Bhatta took the money and didn't arrange the work, the students took him to a local police station in Japan. “We took him to the police when we didn't get our money back, and he promised to pay there too. Then he started cheating others,” said a Nepali youth in Saitama. The students claim that when questioned about money and work, he would call them to various stations in the city, deceive them, and cause mental distress.

“He told me there was an interview tomorrow and to deposit the money quickly, so I deposited 300,000 rupees. The interview was via Zoom, but the interviewer didn't show their face. There were about 40 Nepali students there. They told me I passed and sent an offer letter 3 days later. When I searched for the company, I couldn't find it anywhere,” a student told RatoPati.

The student said that when he repeatedly asked Bhatta to send the advertisement, he did not. “He didn't provide any information about the salary or the work location or nature of the job. Then I said I wouldn't work, give me my money back. He called me to Ueno Station to return the money and talked for 5 hours, but didn't give the money back,” he said.

• How Bhatta convinced them

According to another Nepali student in Tokyo, Bhatta took money from him and promised to arrange a job at a hotel in Tokyo, even sending him the hotel's location. He said, “He kept me waiting with repeated interview calls, but in the end, nothing happened. He just took my money. Because of this, I was supposed to return to Nepal, but I am staying here by collecting donations from friends.”

Another student said, “In my case, a friend introduced me. He had shown fake documents to my friend for visa application, I didn't even know. Initially, he said he would arrange work in Nagoya, then said it would be in hotel bed-making if not there. He took the money and disappeared,” said the student.

• Bhatta threatened when asked for money

When they didn't get their money back, students caught Bhatta many times. When caught, Bhatta threatened them by saying,