I was travelling around Japan when the unthinkable happened to me at a bar… now I’ve been left $10,000 out-of-pocket and the cops won’t even help me

with-font”>An Aussie DJ has issued a desperate plea for help after his drink was spiked and $10,000 stolen from his bank account while touring in Japan. 

the Melbourne-based progressive trance DJ, Robert Bregnsdal, travelled to Tokyo to perform at OR, a venue in the Shibuya City district, on September 7.

What should have been a great opportunity for Mr Bregnsdal instead became a holiday nightmare after he was lured into a common tourist trap.

He had been drinking at another bar when his drink was spiked. He claimed to have been unconscious for hours while staff and patrons acted ‘like I wasn’t even there’.

His troubles only worsened after finding his bank card had been stolen and $10,000 drained out of his account.

The DJ claims to have been ‘shrugged off’ by both the bar and local police, despite numerous reports of drink spiking leading to credit card fraud in recent years.

Mr Bregnsdal said the money was ‘everything I had’ after quitting one of his jobs to concentrate on music and fund upcoming events in Brisbane and Melbourne.

He was only able to have $3,000 reimbursed through a fraud claim with his bank and has asked Aussies for help recoup the remaining $7,000 through a GoFundMe.

Gold Coast-based DJ Robert Bregnsdal (pictured) has issued a dire warning to tourists after he had his drink spiked before his card was stolen and used for $10,000 in purchases in Tokyo

Mr Bregnsdal said it was ‘super embarrassing’ to have to ask for help through the fundraiser, but was left with ‘no alternative choice’.

‘I’ve never been spiked in my life, and do not wish it on anyone,’ he wrote.

‘Its an experience that has completely rocked my world and not only has it effected me financially, but also mentally.’

He added that without the money he would be forced to end his own events, Eden, which he has been running for about a decade. 

Mr Bregnsdal added he would also be left on ‘struggle street’.

‘$4,000 of that money was saved to fixed my car, meaning I also now wont have any transportation,’ he wrote. 

‘I had money also saved for my rent & bills.’

He has since travelled to Europe to perform at the Amsterdam Dance Event to further his music career while dealing with the massive loss of funds.

Dozens of other tourists have reported incidents similar to Mr Bregnsdal’s since the late 2000s, especially in Tokyo’s numerous 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 DJ had travelled to the country to perform at a venue in Tokyo’s Shibuya City and help further his music career when he became a victim of the crime reported by dozens of others

‘You may be served drinks with higher alcohol content than normal,’ the department’s SmartTraveller website reads.

‘Some victims have woken in unknown places and discovered high credit card charges.

‘Other victims have been taken to ATMs and forced to withdraw a large sum of cash while under the effects of drink spiking.’

The department urges travellers to ‘never leave your drink unattended and be cautious of accepting drinks from strangers or recent acquaintances’.