Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Liaoyuan, China
1. Taxi Scams
Be wary of drivers who refuse to use a meter or quote an excessive price. Always agree on the fare before starting the journey.
- Meter Refusal: Taxi drivers refusing to use the meter
- Exorbitant Quotes: Taxi drivers quoting excessive prices for short journeys
- Unlicensed Taxis: Riding in unlicensed taxis can lead to safety concerns
2. Counterfeit Goods Market
Avoid purchasing electronic items, branded goods or antiques from street vendors without checking their authenticity. Always buy from reputable stores.
- Unchecked Vendors: Street vendors selling counterfeit or low-quality items
- High-value Items: Counterfeit goods market focuses on high-value items like electronics, branded goods, and antiques
- Health Risks: Counterfeit electronic goods may pose safety risks due to poor quality components
3. Currency Exchange Scams
Avoid exchanging money on the street. Always use a reputable bank or exchange service with clear rates.
- Street Exchanges: Exchanging money on the street can lead to receiving counterfeit currency
- Hidden Fees: Some exchange services may charge hidden fees or offer unfavorable exchange rates
- Counterfeit Currency: Receiving counterfeit currency can lead to difficulties when spending the money later
4. Overcharging at Restaurants
Be careful of restaurants charging excessive prices for local dishes. Always check the menu prices before ordering.
- Exorbitant Prices: Restaurants quoting higher prices for local dishes than their actual value
- Menu Misinformation: Menus not reflecting the true cost of items, leading to overcharging
- Unscrupulous Waiters: Waiters taking advantage of tourists' unfamiliarity with local prices
5. Overpriced Tourist Attractions
Be wary of ticket booths charging excessive entry fees for popular tourist attractions. Research admission prices beforehand.
- Exorbitant Fees: Tourist attractions charging higher prices than their actual value
- Hidden Fees: Additional fees for services like photography or guided tours
- Ticket Booth Scams: Unscrupulous ticket booth operators taking advantage of tourists' unfamiliarity with local prices
6. Faux Guide Services
Be cautious when hiring a guide on the street. Always confirm their credentials and agree on fees before beginning the tour.
- Unlicensed Guides: Guides operating without a license or proper accreditation
- Exorbitant Fees: Guides quoting higher fees for their services than what is reasonable
- Misinformation: Tour guides providing misleading or inaccurate information to steer visitors towards certain shops or services
7. Fake Friend Scams
Beware of overly friendly locals offering assistance. They may lead you to scammy stores or ask for money in return for help.
- Overly Friendly: Friendliness used as a cover to take advantage of tourists
- Scammy Stores: Friends leading tourists to counterfeit goods stores or overpriced shops
- Money Requests: Friends asking for money in exchange for help, transportation, or other services
8. ATM Skimming
Use ATMs inside banks or well-lit, busy areas to minimize the risk of skimming devices. Always cover your PIN when entering it.
- Skimming Devices: ATMs equipped with skimming devices to capture card information
- Dark or Isolated ATMs: ATMs in dark or isolated areas providing an opportunity for thieves to install skimming devices
- Card Cloning: Criminals using captured card information to create clones and withdraw funds from your account
9. Fraudulent Accommodation Bookings
Book accommodations through reputable platforms or hotels directly. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
- Overbooked Rooms: Booking a room that doesn't exist or is already occupied
- Scammy Accommodations: Accommodations offering poor conditions, safety concerns, or located far from attractions
- Payment Scams: Scammers asking for payment upfront without providing a confirmation or receipt
10. Internet Café Data Theft
Avoid using public computers for sensitive tasks like online banking or email. Use a VPN to secure your connection.
- Keylogging Malware: Public computers infected with keylogging malware to capture login credentials
- Unsecured Connections: Public Wi-Fi networks providing an opportunity for hackers to intercept data transmissions
- Identity Theft: Thieves using captured login credentials to access your personal information
11. Mobile Phone Scams
Avoid buying mobile phones from street vendors or unfamiliar stores. Always purchase from reputable dealers with a receipt.
- Counterfeit Phones: Street vendors selling counterfeit or low-quality mobile phones
- Missing Components: Phones sold without chargers, batteries, or other necessary components
- Unauthorized Access: Counterfeit phones pre-programmed with malware or spyware to access personal data
12. Sim Card Scams
Avoid purchasing SIM cards from street vendors. Always buy them from official stores with a receipt.
- Counterfeit Cards: Street vendors selling counterfeit or low-quality SIM cards
- Unauthorized Access: Counterfeit cards pre-programmed with malware or spyware to access personal data
- Data Theft: Thieves using captured data to access your phone and personal information
13. Overpriced SIM Card Data Packages
Research mobile carrier data package prices before arriving. Avoid purchasing large data packages from street vendors or unfamiliar stores.
- Exorbitant Prices: Data packages priced significantly higher than their actual value
- Hidden Fees: Additional fees for services like phone calls or text messages
- Unreliable Service: Data packages offering slow speeds, limited coverage, or other service issues
14. Bogus Police Stations
Be wary of individuals posing as police officers. Always ask for official identification and verify their authenticity.
- Impersonation: Individuals pretending to be police officers to extort money or gain access to personal information
- False Accusations: Accusing tourists of breaking local laws to demand bribes or fines
- Robbery: Pretending to be police officers to rob tourists of their belongings or money
15. Street Performance Scams
Be cautious when approached by street performers. Avoid participating in games that require money or personal information.
- Money Requests: Performers asking for money after a 'game' or performance
- Personal Information Theft: Performers asking for personal information under the guise of a fun interaction
- Distraction Theft: Performances designed to distract tourists while accomplices pickpocket or steal belongings