Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Ningbo, China

1. Taxis in Ningbo

Avoid overcharges and scams by ensuring taxis use meter or negotiate price upfront.

Meter Use: Ensure taxi uses meter to avoid overpricing.
Negotiation: Negotiate price for fixed destinations before starting the journey.
Licensed Taxis: Only take licensed taxis with visible identification.

Avoid ticket scams and overcharges by researching ticket prices beforehand.

Prepaid Tickets: Purchase tickets from official booths or authorized resellers.
Ticket Price Research: Research ticket prices before visiting attractions to avoid overcharges.
Avoid Street Vendors: Do not buy tickets from street vendors near tourist attractions.

Avoid contaminated or overpriced food by checking for cleanliness and reasonable prices.

Cleanliness: Choose street food stalls with a clean environment.
Reasonable Prices: Avoid overpriced food by comparing prices with nearby stalls.
Busy Stalls: Choose busier stalls as they usually have good hygiene and popular dishes.

Avoid buying fake products by researching reputable stores or shopping malls.

Brand Authenticity: Check for authenticity of popular brands.
Reputable Stores: Shop at reputable stores with good reviews.
Shopping Malls: Visit established shopping malls known for quality products.

Avoid accepting or using counterfeit currency by carefully checking the bills.

Bills Inspection: Inspect bills for security features such as watermarks, holograms, and raised printing.
Change in Reputable Places: Exchange money at reputable banks or exchange centers.
Keep Small Amounts: Keep smaller amounts of cash for daily transactions to reduce the risk of receiving counterfeit bills.

Avoid online scams by only using secure websites, avoiding suspicious links, and verifying the identity of sellers.

Secure Websites: Only use secure websites with 'https' in the URL.
Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
Seller Verification: Verify the identity of sellers by checking their reviews and contacting them before transactions.

Avoid accommodation scams by booking through reputable platforms or directly with the hotel.

Reputable Platforms: Book accommodations through trusted platforms like Booking.com, Agoda, etc.
Direct Hotel Bookings: Contact hotels directly for bookings and confirm all details before arrival.
Reviews and Ratings: Check reviews and ratings of accommodations to ensure quality.

Avoid transportation scams by only using licensed buses, metros or trains.

Licensed Vehicles: Ensure the vehicle is licensed and follows designated routes.
Official Ticketing Counters: Purchase tickets from official ticketing counters at stations.
Avoid Street Vendors: Do not buy transportation tickets from street vendors near stations.

Avoid sim card scams by purchasing from official retailers or telecom providers.

Official Retailers: Purchase sim cards from authorized retailers or service centers.
Telecom Providers: Contact telecom providers for sim card services and deals.
Avoid Street Vendors: Do not purchase sim cards from street vendors or unauthorized sources.

Avoid being taken advantage of due to the language barrier by learning some basic Chinese phrases and using translation apps.

Basic Chinese Phrases: Learn some basic Chinese phrases for daily conversations.
Translation Apps: Use translation apps to communicate effectively with locals.
Ask for Help: Don't hesitate to ask for help from friendly locals or hotel staff when needed.

Avoid faux guide scams by only using licensed tour guides and researching tour companies beforehand.

Licensed Guides: Ensure the guide has a valid license and identification.
Reputable Tour Companies: Research tour companies for good reviews, prices, and services.
Avoid Street Guides: Do not accept unsolicited guide services from street vendors or individuals.

Avoid unfair bargaining scams by researching fair prices and being prepared to walk away from deals.

Fair Prices Research: Research fair prices for items before bargaining.
Preparedness to Walk Away: Be prepared to walk away from deals if the price isn't reasonable.
Avoid Overeagerness: Do not show overeagerness during bargaining, as it might signal a lack of knowledge about fair prices.

Avoid phishing scams by not sharing personal information online or through emails.

Personal Information Protection: Do not share sensitive personal information on the internet.
Secure Connections: Use secure connections when accessing financial or personal accounts online.
Verify Sender Identity: Verify the identity of senders before opening emails, especially those containing links or attachments.

Avoid ATM scams by only using machines in well-lit and busy areas.

Well-Lit Areas: Use ATMs in well-lit, visible, and busy areas.
Safe Locations: Avoid using ATMs near secluded areas or hidden cameras.
Cover Keypad: Cover the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent keylogging devices.

Avoid internet café scams by using reputable cafes with good reviews and keeping an eye on your devices.

Reputable Internet Cafes: Choose internet cafés with good reviews and secure connections.
Keep an Eye on Devices: Keep an eye on your devices while using the internet in cafés to prevent theft or tampering.
Secure Connections: Use secure connections when accessing sensitive information online.