2007-03-11 10:14:27 · 12 answers · asked by rjhamuk 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ China
Most unfortunately, with the influx of foreigners and travellers to China, it has become very popular to scam them for money. In fact, scamming is common even among the Chinese. If you are not from the city and you speak Mandarin, the locals will scam you.
Taxis are very notorious, they will run around the city to run up the meter. That happened to me in Hang Zhou & often in Shanghai too till I got street smart. Unfortunately if you don't speak the language, it will be difficult. However, the amount they will scam you is low...at most RMB5-10 which is $US1+.
Buying fake items is even more of a bargaining power. A fake Gucci bag will be offered at RMB200 but if its a wallet, pay no more than RMB60 or if its a ladies bag, no more than RMB120. All this will come down to how hard you bargain.
If you are travelling with a Chinese friend, you might as well shut your mouth & let him negotiate.
2007-03-11 14:48:41 · answer #1 · answered by grendeth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, in that respect China is no different to anywhere else!
In fact in Beijing I had two bad experiences.
One with the taxi from the new international railway station when I got off the Trans-Mongolian Express...
Remember NEVER take a taxi unless it has a meter, has the sign on the top, has the price on the rear side windows...your guide book can tell you more, or your hotel or hostel.
Also, NEVER take those cycle rides offered by scam artists near the Forbidden City, or Summer Palace, or Tianammen Sq ... I GUARANTEE you will be told $2 or $3 before you start, and $200 when you get off ...
so be sensible, be careful... and enjoy your vacation!
For more information, ask on the Lonely Planet Thorntree - it's the worlds largest travel forum!
Hope that helps
Philip
2007-03-11 10:29:59 · answer #2 · answered by Our Man In Bananas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scam is working for foreigners and the local as well. But it is true that with foreigner it works better because they don't speak the language so it is easier to fool them.
Some experience has been said for foreigner but for Chinese here are some :
- someone comes to see you and wants you to invest in a company that is located 4000 km away for your place. So no way to check and byebye money
- the simple thing : be part of a organisation. You first pay to be a member then each member finds to other members who have to pay as well and so on. They are promised large sums of money after a few months but they will see nothing. And it works.
2007-03-11 14:29:33 · answer #3 · answered by kl55000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes just be smart a common scam is they try to get convert your currency. Always go to bank to convert your cash or better yet bring a credit card or debit and get your conversions at ATM's. They are always trying to scam tourist's people from different parts of china just remember you can bargain everthing prices are not set in stone.
2007-03-12 06:23:46 · answer #4 · answered by PE7E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, even more so if your a white westerner. Always take taxi that are marked with the words taxi and have a meter. There are private cars that offer taxi services, but unless you know chinese and know how much the trip really costs don't bother.
The next trick is beware of people wanting to make friends with you in the street, specially around tourist areas, they want you to go to either a art gallary (bogus) there they will try and get you to buy something overpriced.
Another one is they will take you to a tea house there the prices are high and they will also charge you to for the room you sit in as well.
Also on market stalls do not buy at the first price they offer, what ever price they ask for always buy it at about one fifth of that they ask for.
2007-03-11 13:47:51 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Hex Vision 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
check out http://scamsbeware.com - consumer resource center. all kinds of scam info there, there's also a forum where u can keep up to date on current and future scams. And if u have any questions just post it in the forum and somebody out there should help u. http://scamsbeware.com/forum Best of all it's FREE 2 join, just register at the top it'll be worth it for u to keep up 2 date on scams/fraud. Hope this helps.
2007-03-14 15:34:58 · answer #6 · answered by MichiganSportsForum.com 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In fact, that's the place where they breed scam artists...I'm kidding! I've had several bad experiences in China. Just make sure you're always with someone from the hotel (tour guide,whatever) to make sure that no one is scamming you, that's what we did after the 5fth time we got victimized.
2007-03-11 11:16:39 · answer #7 · answered by El_sleepyhead 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scamming is known all over the world.
2007-03-11 10:32:02 · answer #8 · answered by Trish D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ha! They're pros at it here. If you can get the price they would scam the Chinese with you've got some great bargaining skills. Just remember the conversion rate and you won't feel too bad.
2007-03-12 06:40:44 · answer #9 · answered by reuby02 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hell yes
especially on fakes
they try to scam you into thinking they're real
unless you're at the real brand store
the brands most likely aren't real
2007-03-13 12:39:58 · answer #10 · answered by Ocean Love 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋