Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Hengzhou, China
1. Taxi Overcharging
Avoid overpriced taxi rides by using official taxis or ride-hailing apps. Always agree on the price before starting your journey.
- Official Taxis: Use licensed and metered taxis for a fair fare.
- Ride-hailing Apps: Booking a ride through apps like Didi Chuxing provides peace of mind with known pricing.
- Price Agreement: Negotiating the fare before starting your journey helps prevent unexpected charges.
2. Counterfeit Goods Market
Avoid fake goods sold at discounted prices in some local markets. Opt for branded stores or reputable dealers instead.
- Branded Stores: Purchase authentic items from authorized retailers.
- Reputable Dealers: Look for trustworthy and established dealers with good customer feedback.
- Discounted Prices: Be wary of products priced significantly lower than market value, as they may be counterfeit.
3. ATM Scams
Use ATMs located inside banks or reputable facilities to minimize the risk of skimming and card trapping.
- Bank ATMs: Choose ATMs situated within banks for enhanced security measures.
- Reputable Facilities: Opt for ATMs at post offices, hotels, or shopping malls for an added layer of trust.
- Cover the Keyhole: Always cover the keyhole to prevent potential skimming devices from recording your PIN.
4. Street Food Scams
Avoid food vendors that lack a hygiene license and choose busy stalls with high turnover for safer eating.
- Hygiene License: Ensure the vendor has the required food safety certifications.
- Busy Stalls: Look for stalls with a steady stream of customers, indicating popular and potentially safer choices.
- High Turnover: Freshly prepared food is generally safer to eat. Consider the vendor's pace and frequency of food preparation.
5. Unlicensed Tour Guides
Avoid unregistered tour guides and opt for licensed guides or reputable tour companies to ensure a high-quality experience.
- Licensed Guides: Hire only registered and certified tour guides.
- Reputable Tour Companies: Book tours through established and well-regarded travel agencies or online platforms.
- Low Cost: Be wary of tour offers that are significantly cheaper than competitors, as they may compromise on service quality.
6. Public Wi-fi Scams
Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for sensitive activities like online banking or transactions. Use a VPN for secure internet access.
- VPN Usage: Connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for secure and encrypted internet access.
- Sensitive Activities: Limit sensitive activities, like online banking, on trusted networks only.
- Password Protection: Use strong and unique passwords for your accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
7. Hotel Room Scams
Inspect hotel rooms thoroughly before accepting them. Be wary of rooms with unusual prices or offers that seem too good to be true.
- Thorough Inspection: Check the room for any damages, cleanliness, and safety issues before settling in.
- Unusual Prices: Compare prices with other hotels in the same area to avoid overpriced rooms.
- Too Good to Be True Offers: Be cautious of rooms advertised at significantly lower prices or with unrealistic amenities.
8. Temple Donation Scams
Avoid aggressive temple vendors offering to help with donations. Make your own offerings directly at the altar or donation box.
- Direct Offerings: Place your donations in the designated donation boxes or at the altars.
- Aggressive Vendors: Ignore vendors who try to pressure you into making larger donations or force you to buy unwanted items.
- Respectful Behavior: Maintain a respectful and considerate demeanor when visiting temples, as this may discourage aggressive vendors.
9. Bar Scams
Avoid bars that seem deserted or have overly pushy staff offering drinks. Opt for busy and popular establishments for a safe and enjoyable night out.
- Busy Bars: Choose bars with a steady stream of customers, as they are likely to be reputable.
- Deserted Bars: Stay away from virtually empty bars, as they may be questionable or fraudulent establishments.
- Pushy Staff: Avoid bars with overly pushy staff who pressure you into drinking more than desired.
10. Fake Tea Shops
Avoid tea shops that lack a clear shopfront and choose establishments with high-quality tea leaves and friendly service.
- Clear Shopfront: Look for tea shops with a well-marked storefront and a clean, inviting atmosphere.
- High-quality Tea Leaves: Check the quality of the tea leaves before purchasing, as fresh and premium leaves are indicative of authentic shops.
- Friendly Service: Opt for tea shops with helpful and friendly staff who can guide you through your tea selection process.
11. Counterfeit Souvenirs
Avoid souvenir shops that offer items at unusually low prices. Opt for shops with high-quality souvenirs and a good reputation.
- Unusually Low Prices: Be wary of souvenir shops where the prices are significantly lower than elsewhere.
- High-quality Souvenirs: Look for well-made and authentic souvenirs that reflect the local culture and craftsmanship.
- Good Reputation: Ask locals for recommendations or read online reviews to find reputable souvenir shops.
12. Cybercafé Scams
Use trusted cybercafés with good reviews and avoid leaving your personal items unattended. Be cautious of computers with installed keyloggers or spyware.
- Trusted Cybercafes: Choose cybercafés that are well-regarded and have positive customer feedback.
- Personal Items: Keep your personal items with you at all times, as theft can occur in cybercafes.
- Keyloggers and Spyware: Use a VPN or avoid logging into sensitive accounts when using unfamiliar computers.
13. Street Performers Scams
Avoid street performers who request money for taking photographs or performing tricks. Opt for open-air performances in well-known venues with clear pricing.
- Well-known Venues: Visit established performance locations like parks, plazas, or theaters for a guaranteed entertaining and safe experience.
- Clear Pricing: Look for performances with clearly displayed pricing to avoid being overcharged.
- Requests for Money: Be wary of street performers who ask for money in exchange for photographs or tricks, as these interactions can lead to scams.
14. Ticket Scalping
Avoid purchasing tickets from unofficial ticket vendors. Buy tickets at authorized sales points or through reliable online channels.
- Authorized Sales Points: Purchase tickets directly from the venue or official sales outlets.
- Reliable Online Channels: Book tickets through reputable online platforms for a hassle-free experience.
- Unofficial Vendors: Be wary of ticket vendors who seem unauthorized or unreliable, as they may sell counterfeit or overpriced tickets.
15. Tailor Scams
Avoid tailors who lack a storefront and choose established tailoring shops with good reviews. Be cautious of shops that offer exceptionally low prices or unrealistic turnaround times.
- Storefront: Look for tailoring shops with a visible storefront and a clean, inviting atmosphere.
- Good Reviews: Read online reviews or ask locals for recommendations to find reputable tailors.
- Exceptionally Low Prices: Be cautious of tailoring shops that offer exceptionally low prices, as the quality of work may suffer.