The Most Common Scams in China

Going to Beijing, Shanghai or any place in China? Have a safe trip by checking this very common scams they do in almost every part of the country. What to know before going to China.

The most common scams in China

Wanna go to the art or tea exhibition?

One of the most common ways of scams in China, is that random people arrive asking you where you are from and inviting you to visit a typical Chinese restaurant or a tea place. Never go with a stranger, since most likely they will take you to a bad restaurant and charge you an unreal bill, the same goes for the tea and art gallery thing.

Black taxi

As in many large cities, there are safe taxis and others that are not. Generally at the airport you will find many people telling you that there are no taxis outside, that they are cheap taxis, etc.

Do not take them,they’ll scam you, it is best to ask what the official airport taxis are or ask for a didi (the same as Uber).

Fake 100 yuan bills

Speaking of taxis, this is one of the most common scams in China and in which unfortunately we fell. We took a taxi on the street and when we arrived at our destination, we paid him with a 100 yuan bill, which the taxi driver took and started screaming like crazy and he returned it to us, saying no. We didn’t know what was wrong, so we payed with a smaller bill. Later we realized that the 100 yuan bill he gave us was fake.

Never pay with large bills, always carry change as it is one of the most common scams. Try to know the bills, how they look and feel. If you notice that you are being scammed, threaten to call the police or dial 110 to help you.

When you need cash, use the ATMs of an official bank or a hotel.

Alternative lines

If you are waiting in line at the entrance of a palace or touristic area and a person comes to tell you that there is a shorter line, that you follow him. Do not do it. Always look for an officer or stay in your place. It is better to take more time than taking the risk of another scam.

Pickpockets

Another very common problem in many places in the world. Pickpockets can work alone or in groups. So, it is important to be prepared and always have your belongings well stored. I

n China they are experts in getting things out of your pockets or your suitcase. It is very important that you have your bag pack in front of you and that your wallet and cell phone are not in your jeans bags. If you can get those anti-theft  bag packs, get one. Never leave anything in sight. If you feel that someone is too close to you, do not hesitate to push them. Specially, if you are traveling alone. Better safe than sorry.

Fake products

We already know that China is well-known for it’s perfect imitation products. In fact many tourists go with the idea of ​​buying “brand” bags at a much lower price because they are perfect imitations.  But that does not mean that you may fall into the scam of thinking that it is an original product and it is not true. If you want to buy something original, go to the specific store of that brand. If you find products in a boutique or a regular store, it may be fake.

Inflated prices

When I visited China, one of the tips that a friend who lived there gave me was that in boutique stores or clothing markets, no matter what price they give you, always bargain half the price! Prices in China are super high. They can get pretty expensive, actually Chinese people know this so they tend to bargain too, it is part of their culture, so do not be afraid to do it. I got a dress from 500 RMB to 50 RMB, got the idea?

Cheap tours

Whenever you hire a tour do it through a hotel or large chain. Never hire a tour offered by strangers on the street. These tend to be frauds.

Pink tip:

Get a VPN

Having internet in China is a mess, so don’t forget to get a VPN before entering the country. Know everything you need to know before traveling to China here.