When living in China, keep always on your mind that scams are a part of everyday life. The most common scam in China is definitely the taxi service. Taxis without counters or with accelerated counters (showing astronomic price for a couple minutes of driving) or simply a fake taxi… there are many ways in which the tourists may be tricked! To avoid being ripped off, it is wise to get some information about normal price of transport by asking someone who lives in Shanghai or has already visited the city. This precaution will slow you down during your travels, but you will avoid scams. If you have a card for public transport ‘Jiāotōng kǎ‘, don’t take your eyes off it. Some Chinese taxi drivers may exchange this card for one with no money on it and ask you to pay in cash. In case of a problem, do not forget o note the taxi drivers license number.
In China you may encounter an attempt of scam anywhere… even in a places like a tea house! Imagine the scene: you are walking on some touristic place in Shanghai and you encounter a Chinese couple that is curious about your origins and your country. They will ask questions to engage a conversation and then invite you to a close tea house. In the end, it is them who were invited… by asking you to pay the note – well prepared trap with the owner… In case of any problems of this type, can cane file a complaint with the PSB (Public Security Bureau), telephone number: 021-6357 6666. Now you understand that being a tourist in China requires a preparation and vigilance!
