Scams in Shanghai

Shanghai is a very safe city and there is very little violent crime, even less directed to foreigners. Shanghainese are very friendly and they will always help you if you ask for help. It is not common for Chinese to approach Westerners out of the blue and start chatting or asking for favors (can you take a picture?). They would rather ask a Chinese. One exception is being asked to have a picture taken together (especially when you are blonde, red haired or very tall).

Unfortunately, scams are very common in Shanghai, especially around touristy places like People's Square, East Nanjing Road and on the Bund. Pretty girls, a well-matched couple, or a group of decent looking students approach foreigners and start a conversation. Until this point there is nothing wrong about it. The scam starts when you are asked to join! Very common scams are going to a “tea ceremony”, “art gallery”, “practice English over a tea”, “massage”, going out eating or to a bar together. Uncountable people have experienced this type of scam and had to pay exorbitant prices ranging from 600RMB for tea to 15.000 RMB and more for drinks served in a bar.

It is easy to avoid this kind of scams by never going with any stranger anywhere. Anyone who introduced themselves to you in a public place or who you have known for less than 24 hours is a stranger. Don´t go to any place such as tea house, restaurant, shop, massage parlor, art gallery, bar, night club, Chinese medicine store or else.

Ignore anyone who approaches you and speaks English on the street and never go with any stranger anywhere.