Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Hong Kong, Hong Kong

All Topics about Hong Kong All Cities in Hong Kong

1. Taxi Scams

Avoid unlicensed taxis and overcharging by using licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps.

Recognizing Unlicensed Taxis: Unlicensed taxis often lack a red taxi licence plate, meter, and may refuse to use the meter.
Ride-hailing Apps Availability: Popular ride-hailing apps like Uber and Gojek are available in Hong Kong.
Emergency Contact: Always have the emergency contact number for your accommodation or travel agency handy.

Avoid purchasing counterfeit goods from street vendors. Instead, buy from authorized retailers.

Recognizing Counterfeits: Counterfeits often have lower quality and misspellings.
Shopping Centers: Hong Kong has numerous shopping centers with branded retail stores.
Legal Implications: Possession of counterfeit goods can lead to fines or imprisonment.

Don't be tricked into giving money to street performers who demand more than what was initially agreed upon.

Initial Agreement: Always agree on the amount beforehand when taking photos or watching performances.
Popular Performing Areas: Performers often congregate in areas like Temple Street Night Market and Ladies' Market.
Reporting Scams: If you encounter a scam, report it to the nearest police station or tourist information center.

Avoid eating at food stalls that serve fishballs with water instead of soup. Legitimate stalls use broth.

Broth vs Water: Fishballs served in water, not broth, are often a sign of a scam.
Popular Eateries: Find reputable fishball eateries by asking locals or researching online.
Safe Consumption: Check for food safety certificates and ensure the stall has proper hygiene practices.

Keep your belongings secure at all times, especially in crowded areas like markets and tourist attractions.

Secure Belongings: Use a slash-proof bag or backpack with hidden pockets.
Crowded Areas Precautions: Be extra vigilant in crowded areas and keep your belongings close at all times.
Reporting Theft: If you've been pickpocketed, report it to the nearest police station or your embassy.

Avoid purchasing jade at street stalls and insist on seeing a certificate of authenticity from reputable jewelers.

Certificates of Authenticity: Reputable jewelers provide certificates to prove the authenticity and value of their jade.
Popular Jade Shops: Hong Kong has many well-known jade shops, such as Chun Kong Jade Company Limited.
Jeweler Reputation: Research jewelers before making a purchase to ensure their reputation for selling authentic jade.

Learn some basic Cantonese phrases or use translation apps to avoid misunderstandings and potential scams.

Basic Cantonese Phrases: Knowing simple phrases like 'how much is this?' can help you negotiate prices.
Translation Apps: Translation apps like Google Translate can help overcome language barriers.
Asking for Help: Don't hesitate to ask locals or staff for help if you're unsure about something.

Ignore anyone offering lottery tickets or claiming you've won a prize. Lotteries are not legal in Hong Kong.

Legal Status of Lotteries: Lotteries are illegal in Hong Kong, and any offers of tickets or prizes should be ignored.
Avoid Giving Personal Information: Never share personal information with strangers offering lottery tickets or prizes.
Reporting Scams: If you encounter a scam, report it to the nearest police station or tourist information center.

Avoid participating in street gambling as it's illegal in Hong Kong.

Illegal Status of Street Gambling: Street gambling is illegal in Hong Kong, and participation can lead to fines or imprisonment.
Safety Precautions: Avoid areas where street gambling is taking place for safety reasons.
Reporting Scams: If you witness illegal gambling, report it to the nearest police station or tourist information center.

Be cautious when meeting strangers online and never share personal information or money with them.

Personal Information Protection: Avoid sharing sensitive information like your address, phone number, or bank details.
Meeting in Public Places: Always meet new acquaintances from dating apps or websites in public places.
Reporting Scams: If you suspect a scam, report it to the police and your embassy.

Avoid eating street food that looks unappetizing or is being served by unhygienic vendors.

Unappetizing Food: Street food that doesn't look appealing may be unsafe to eat.
Hygiene Practices: Look for vendors who follow proper hygiene practices, such as wearing gloves and handling food safely.
Reputable Street Food: Find reputable street food vendors by asking locals or researching online.

Only book tours through reputable tour companies or official tourist information centers.

Reputable Tour Companies: Find a reliable tour company by researching reviews and checking their website.
Official Tourist Information Centers: Use official tourist information centers for booking tours and getting advice on attractions.
Avoiding Scams: Be wary of unsolicited offers for tours from strangers in the street.

Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centers to reduce the risk of skimming devices.

Inside Banks or Shopping Centers: ATMs located inside banks and shopping centers have better security measures.
Monitor Your Account: Regularly monitor your account for unusual activity.
Reporting Scams: If you suspect an ATM skimming scam, report it to the bank and the police.

Keep your credit card safe and monitor transactions closely to prevent fraud.

Keeping Your Credit Card Safe: Avoid leaving your credit card unattended or using it in public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Monitoring Transactions: Regularly check your account for any unauthorized transactions.
Reporting Fraud: Contact your credit card company immediately if you suspect fraud.

Only buy airline tickets from authorized travel agencies or the airline's website.

Authorized Travel Agencies: Find authorized travel agencies by researching their legitimacy and checking reviews.
Airline's Website: Purchase tickets directly from the airline's website for added security.
Avoiding Scams: Be wary of unsolicited offers for airline tickets from strangers in the street or online.