Beijing could be a capital of all sorts of scams: scenic cab rides from the airport, fake ATMs and fake money, fake companies and online businesses and even fake baozi. I believe that if you get scammed, it’s all your fault for being so naive and trusting in foreign country.So read on !
There are three main variations of this scam as well as many spin-offs employed all over China, not only in Beijing.
The Teahouse Scam:
The Scammers: Usually college age girls, wearing casual clothes, with pretty good English language skills.
The Approach: “Hi, where are you from?” , “That’s a nice country …blah blah blah”, “Can you help me practice English?” “Let’s go have some tea while we chat, I know a place”
The Take: At the “Tea House” you get to drink some tea (you don’t get to see the menu, since the girls recommend which tea to drink) and watch the “traditional Chinese tea drinking ritual”. In the end you get presented with a bill which is usually around 1000RMB (~150USD) or more. With a lot of arguing and yelling you can get away with paying less than the actual bill (a major sign of a scam), but your whole China experience could be ruined.
The Art Gallery Scam:
The Scammers: Once again college age girls or guys, posing as art students, exceptional English skills.
The Approach: “Hi, where are you from?”, “Have you traveled around China much?”, “I’m an art student and my professor is having an Art exhibition today.”, “The Gallery is just around the corner and if you come with me I can get you in for free!”
The Take: You end up at some crappy studio, with mediocre paintings at best. While you’re looking at the paintings the high pressure sales pitch begins (think timeshare sales or any pyramid scheme agents). They try to sell you the paintings for more than 200USD, but even if you bargain it down to 20USD, you’re still getting ripped off. In fact they don’t want to let you go until you buy at least a couple of hideously overpriced “art pieces”.
The Tour Guide Scam:
The Scammers: Practically any Chinese person at a major tourist location, from young hot girls to old but wise men.
The Approach: “Cheap (or sometimes free) tour guide, I’ll show you the places most tourist don’t know of.”
The Take: After a brief “tour” of whatever tourist destination you get lured into:
a) A Teahouse or a restaurant that the guide sincerely recommends since it’s a “unique Chinese experience”,
b) An Art Gallery or a souvenir shop of sorts with astronomical prices and skilled salespeople.
c) The two above.
Like I said there are many variations of these scams, some done more “professionally” while some have “scam” written all over them. Don’t fall for their fake kindness and compliments. Just say “No“, no matter how sad they pretend to be when you reject them. Remember, you live in the real world, if you’re a 50-year-old something and a 18-year-old girl seems interested in you, it’s not because you’re a handsome foreigner, it’s because she wants something from you! Although I’m sure there are exceptions to the rule.
If you are tempted just keep your eyes open and look for the signs. and while there are millions of nice and friendly people in China, chances are that the person, who stops you at Wangfujing or Tiananmen Square, is not one of them. Personally I like to have fun with these people and with a bit of creativity and if your in the mood you can just reverse it up on them. Use it as a great way to practice your Mandarin for free, belive me they will be very attentive and when the BS line comes out just look at your watch and say sorry, I'm late for an appointment it was really nice talking with you:icon_cheesygrin:.Just how long can you keep them talking?:icon_cheesygrin: So enjoy your China experience and use your head.
