Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Siping, Jilin, China

All Topics about Siping All Cities in China

1. Sim Card Scams

Avoid buying SIM cards from unofficial vendors or street sellers. Official stores offer better prices and service.

Official Stores: Official telecom company stores are the safest place to buy a SIM card
Avoid Street Sellers: Street sellers may sell faulty or inactive cards
Check Activation: Ensure the SIM card is activated before leaving the store

Avoid unmarked taxis and use only licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps for safe and fair pricing.

Licensed Taxis: Official taxis have licenses, clearly visible logos, and meters.
Ride-Hailing Apps: Apps like Didi Chuxing offer affordable and safe rides with fixed pricing.
Avoid Unmarked Taxis: Unmarked taxis may overcharge or refuse to use meters.

Avoid buying souvenirs from street vendors and visit authorized shops for genuine items.

Authorized Shops: Official stores sell genuine, high-quality souvenirs.
Street Vendors: Street vendors may sell counterfeit or low-quality goods.
Check for Quality: Inspect items carefully before purchase and look for signs of poor craftsmanship.

Use ATMs located inside banks or well-lit, busy areas to minimize the risk of skimming devices.

Bank ATMs: ATMs inside banks have added security measures.
Well-lit Areas: Well-lit areas deter potential thieves and make it easier to spot suspicious activity.
Cover the Keypad: Cover the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent keyloggers.

Avoid unlicensed guide services and book guides through reputable agencies for a safe and informative experience.

Reputable Agencies: Agencies provide licensed, knowledgeable guides.
Avoid Street Guides: Street guides may not be licensed and may charge excessive fees.
Check Credentials: Request to see the guide's credentials before hiring their services.

Use authorized exchange centers or banks for exchanging currency to avoid counterfeit notes and unfair rates.

Authorized Centers: Authorized exchange centers have better exchange rates and will accept faulty bills.
Avoid Street Exchange: Street exchanges may offer unfair exchange rates or give you counterfeit notes.
Check Denominations: Examine the bills carefully for any irregularities before accepting them.

Avoid eating street food from unhygienic stalls and opt for those with clean environments and fresh ingredients.

Clean Stalls: Clean stalls have well-maintained equipment and a high level of food hygiene.
Fresh Ingredients: Stalls with fresh ingredients are less likely to cause foodborne illnesses.
Avoid Unhygienic Stalls: Unhygienic stalls may use contaminated ingredients or have poor handling practices.

Book hotels through reputable websites or agencies to ensure you're staying at a legitimate establishment.

Reputable Websites: Websites like Booking.com offer secure and reliable bookings.
Avoid Street Bookings: Street bookings may lead to overpaying or staying at subpar hotels.
Check Reviews: Read reviews from previous guests to ensure a positive experience.

Visit verified tourist attractions and check reviews beforehand to avoid fake or poorly maintained locations.

Verified Attractions: Attractions listed on reputable travel websites are more likely to be genuine.
Check Reviews: Read reviews from previous visitors to ensure the attraction is worth visiting.
Avoid Street Attractions: Street attractions may be fake or poorly maintained, leading to disappointment.

Purchase tickets from official outlets or reputable websites to avoid overpriced or counterfeit tickets.

Official Outlets: Official ticket booths and websites offer legitimate tickets.
Avoid Street Ticketing: Street ticketing may lead to overpaying or receiving counterfeit tickets.
Check for Authenticity: Examine the ticket carefully before accepting it.

Visit massage parlors with a visible license or book through reputable spa services to avoid exploitative practices.

Visible License: Massage parlors with a visible license are more likely to follow ethical practices.
Reputable Spa Services: Booking through reputable spas ensures a safe and pleasant experience.
Avoid Unlicensed Parlors: Unlicensed parlors may engage in exploitative or unhygienic practices.

Avoid bars and clubs without a visible license or book through reputable services to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Visible License: Bars with a visible license have undergone safety inspections.
Reputable Services: Booking through reputable services ensures a safe and enjoyable experience.
Avoid Unlicensed Venues: Unlicensed venues may have poor safety standards or engage in unsavory practices.

Purchase medication from reputable pharmacies to avoid counterfeit or low-quality drugs.

Reputable Pharmacies: Pharmacies with a visible license and proper labeling offer genuine medication.
Avoid Street Vendors: Street vendors may sell counterfeit or low-quality medication.
Check Labeling: Examine the medication label for proper branding and instructions.

Use online booking platforms or contact hotels directly to avoid fraudulent accommodation scams.

Online Booking Platforms: Booking.com, Agoda, and Expedia offer secure and reliable bookings.
Contact Hotels Directly: Contacting hotels directly allows for verification of the reservation.
Avoid Unverified Bookings: Unverified bookings may lead to overpaying or staying at subpar accommodations.

Use reputable translation services or apps for accurate and secure language assistance.

Reputable Translation Services: Services like iTranslate offer reliable translations.
Apps for Mobile Devices: Translation apps like Google Translate are convenient and secure.
Avoid Street Translators: Street translators may provide inaccurate or biased translations.