Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

All Topics about Suzhou All Cities in China

1. Temple Bar Scam

Scammers pose as temple monks offering to write good fortune fortunes for a fee. The fortunes are often generic and the money is wasted.

Religious Deception: Temple Bar scammers use religious symbols to deceive tourists.
Wasted Money: The money spent on these fortunes could be used for other activities or purchases.
Generic Fortune: The fortunes given are often generic and lack personal relevance.

Some taxi drivers may overcharge tourists by taking longer routes or refusing to use the meter.

Longer Routes: Drivers may take longer routes to increase fares.
Refusal to Use Meter: Some drivers refuse to use the meter, instead negotiating a price that is usually higher.
Price Gouging: The overcharging by taxi drivers can be substantial, making it a significant financial loss for tourists.

Markets selling counterfeit goods may claim to sell authentic items. These goods are often of poor quality and do not last.

Poor Quality Items: The goods sold in these markets are usually of low quality and do not last long.
Supporting Counterfeit Industry: Buying counterfeit goods supports an illegal industry that harms the economy and legit businesses.
Lack of Warranty or Guarantee: These items do not come with any warranty or guarantee, making purchases risky.

Unlicensed guides may offer their services, leading tourists to overpriced attractions and restaurants.

Overpriced Attractions: The attractions recommended by unlicensed guides are usually overpriced.
Unlicensed Guides: These guides have not gone through the necessary training and licensing, compromising their knowledge and abilities.
Hidden Commissions: The guide may receive a commission for recommending specific attractions or restaurants, biasing their recommendations.

Some street food vendors may use expired or poor-quality ingredients, potentially causing illness.

Expired Ingredients: The ingredients used in these dishes may be past their expiration date.
Poor Hygiene: Some street food vendors may have poor hygiene practices, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
Potential Illness: Consuming food from these vendors could lead to foodborne illness, ruining your travel experience.

Scammers may try to sell you lottery tickets that are already filled out or fake, asking for money upfront.

Already Filled-Out Tickets: The tickets being sold have already been filled out and are thus worthless.
Fake Tickets: Some scammers sell fake tickets, wasting your money.
Upfront Payment: The scammer requires payment upfront for the tickets, increasing the risk of financial loss.

Some tea houses may overcharge tourists by serving poor-quality or watered-down tea.

Overpriced Tea: The tea served in these establishments is often overpriced.
Poor-Quality or Watered-Down Tea: The tea served may be of poor quality or watered down, reducing its taste and value.
Hidden Commissions: These establishments may receive commissions for recommending specific attractions or restaurants, biasing their recommendations.

Petty thieves may target tourists in crowded areas like markets and tourist spots.

Crowded Areas: Thieves often target tourists in crowded places where it's easier to blend in.
Valuables Theft: The thieves are typically interested in stealing wallets, phones, and other valuables.
Distraction Techniques: Thieves may use distraction techniques, such as bumping into you or spilling something on your clothes, to steal from you unnoticed.

Scammers may install skimmers on ATMs to steal card information for fraudulent transactions.

Card Information Theft: The scammer steals your card information, potentially allowing them to make fraudulent transactions.
Skimming Devices: Skimmers are small devices installed on ATMs to read your card information.
Fraudulent Transactions: The scammer may make fraudulent transactions with the stolen card information, causing financial loss.

Tourists renting bicycles may have them stolen if they are left unattended.

Unattended Bicycles: Bicycles are more likely to be stolen if they are left unattended.
Rental Costs: The cost of renting a bicycle can add up over the duration of your trip, making theft a significant financial loss.
Limited Mobility: Losing a rented bicycle limits your mobility and may cause inconvenience during your travels.

Some hotels may overcharge tourists for subpar accommodations.

Subpar Accommodations: The rooms offered may be of lower quality than described or advertised.
Overpriced Rooms: The cost of the room is usually higher than what is typical for that area.
Limited Options: Tourists may have limited options for accommodations, making it harder to find a better deal.

Some money changers may give you less than the agreed-upon amount or exchange counterfeit currency.

Less Than Agreed Amount: The money changer may give you less than the agreed-upon amount.
Counterfeit Currency: Some scammers may exchange counterfeit currency, causing financial loss.
Limited Options: Tourists may have limited options for money changing services, making it harder to find a reliable service.

Some sellers may offer counterfeit maps that lack accurate information or omit certain tourist attractions.

Lack of Accurate Information: The maps being sold are often inaccurate, potentially leading you to miss important attractions.
Omission of Attractions: Some counterfeit maps may omit certain tourist attractions to steer tourists away from those areas.
Low Quality Maps: The quality of the map is usually poor, making it difficult to navigate Suzhou effectively.

Some souvenir shops may overcharge tourists for common or low-quality items.

Overpriced Items: The cost of the items is usually higher than what is typical for that area.
Common or Low-Quality Items: The items being sold are often common or low-quality, making them overpriced.
Limited Options: Tourists may have limited options for souvenir shops, making it harder to find a better deal.

Some online accommodation booking platforms may show fake listings or overcharge for subpar accommodations.

Fake Listings: The listings on these platforms may be fake, not actually existing.
Overpriced Rooms: The cost of the room is usually higher than what is typical for that area.
Subpar Accommodations: The rooms offered may be of lower quality than described or advertised.