Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Taichung, Taiwan

1. Taichung International Airport Taxi Scam

Avoid overpriced or dishonest taxi services at the airport. Always use authorized taxis with clear signage.

Price Fixing: Watch out for fixed prices that are often much higher than standard rates.
Unauthorized Taxis: Be wary of drivers offering services without official taxi badges or signs.
Currency Exchange: Some unscrupulous drivers may try to exchange currency at inflated rates.

Beware of counterfeit goods being sold in markets. Check for low prices and poor quality as indicators.

Low Prices: If a product's price is significantly lower than market average, it may be counterfeit.
Product Quality: Check for poor workmanship or flimsy materials as potential indicators of counterfeits.
Brand Name: Look for misspelled or poorly designed brand names on products, which can indicate fakes.

Avoid overpriced hotels or accommodations by researching and booking in advance through reputable websites.

High Rates: Hotels with rates significantly higher than the average for the area may be attempting to scam.
No Online Presence: Lack of online presence, reviews, or photos can signal a potentially fraudulent accommodation.
Location: Accommodations in secluded areas or far from popular tourist attractions may be overpriced.

Ensure street food is safe and properly cooked. Look for busy stalls with high turnover.

Busy Stall: A busy, well-patronized stall is more likely to serve fresh food.
Cleanliness: Check for clean cooking surfaces and utensils; a dirty stall may be serving unsafe food.
Long Queues: Long queues of locals can indicate that the food is good, fresh, and safe to eat.

Avoid purchasing SIM cards from unauthorized vendors. Only buy from authorized stores or official outlets.

No Official Outlet: If the vendor doesn't have an official outlet or storefront, they may be selling illegal SIM cards.
Low Prices: SIM cards sold at unusually low prices may not work properly or be illegal.
Document Verification: Be prepared to show your passport or ID when purchasing a SIM card to prevent fraud.

Avoid pressure to donate excessively at temples. Consider fair and reasonable donations based on personal budget.

High Pressure Tactics: Aggressive solicitation or high-pressure tactics may indicate a scam.
Donation Amount: Be wary of donation requests for amounts significantly higher than what you're comfortable giving.
Fraudulent Collectors: Some collectors may claim to be temple officials but are actually scammers.

Stay vigilant and keep personal belongings secure while navigating crowded night markets.

Crowded Areas: Pickpockets often operate in crowded areas, such as night markets.
Distractions: Scammers may use distractions, like spilled food or dropped items, to steal from you.
Bag Zippers: Keep your bag zippered and avoid putting valuables in easily accessible pockets.

Avoid unlicensed tour guides who may provide incomplete or misleading information.

Lack of License: An unlicensed guide will not have an official license or ID card.
Low Prices: Tour guides offering services at unusually low prices may be unqualified or dishonest.
Official Tour Agencies: Book tours through reputable, official tour agencies for a safe and informative experience.

Avoid ATMs that look tampered with or are in secluded areas. Use ATMs inside banks whenever possible.

Tampered Machine: Look for signs of tampering, such as strange attachments on the card reader.
Unsafe Locations: ATMs in poorly lit or isolated areas are more vulnerable to skimming devices.
Bank ATMs: Using ATMs inside banks reduces the risk of skimming and fraud.

Inspect banknotes carefully for signs of counterfeiting. Look for poor printing quality or unusual feel.

Poor Print Quality: Counterfeit notes often have blurry, poorly printed images.
Unusual Feel: Authentic banknotes should feel crisp and have a rough texture on the touch.
Lighting Conditions: Inspect banknotes in good lighting to ensure security features are visible.

Avoid overpriced taxi rides by agreeing on a fare before starting your journey.

Unmarked Routes: Taxis may take unnecessarily long or circuitous routes to increase fares.
No Fare Agreement: Without an agreement, drivers may charge excessive prices for short trips.
Reputable Taxis: Use authorized taxis with clear signage and meters to ensure fair pricing.

Be wary of Internet cafés that overcharge or install keyloggers on computers.

High Prices: Prices significantly higher than other cafes in the area may indicate a scam.
Insecure Computers: Computers without antivirus software or secure browsing can put your data at risk.
Reputation: Research popular and well-reviewed Internet cafés for a safe browsing experience.

Avoid overpriced car rental agencies. Research and book in advance through reputable websites.

High Rates: Car rental rates significantly higher than the average for the area may be a scam.
No Online Presence: Lack of online presence, reviews, or photos can signal a potentially fraudulent rental agency.
Location: Car rentals in secluded areas or far from popular tourist attractions may be overpriced.

Purchase event tickets only from authorized outlets or official websites to avoid counterfeit tickets.

Unauthorized Sellers: Tickets sold by unofficial sellers may be counterfeit.
High Prices: Tickets sold at unusually high prices can signal a scam.
Official Outlets: Always purchase tickets from authorized outlets or official websites for a safe and authentic experience.

Avoid overpriced bike rentals. Research and book in advance through reputable websites.

High Prices: Bike rental rates significantly higher than the average for the area may be a scam.
No Online Presence: Lack of online presence, reviews, or photos can signal a potentially fraudulent rental agency.
Location: Bike rentals in secluded areas or far from popular tourist attractions may be overpriced.