Quick Answer
Scams targeting travelers in China are uncommon.
Violent crime is rare, and most interactions are straightforward.
Knowing a few patterns is enough to avoid nearly all problems.
The Core Reality (Put Risk in Perspective)
For most visitors:
- Days pass without any scam attempts
- Public places feel orderly
- Transactions are app-based and recorded
Scams exist, but they are not pervasive.
The Most Common Scam Patterns (Low Frequency)
1) Tea House / Bar Invitation Scam
How it works:
- A friendly stranger invites you for tea or drinks
- Venue looks normal
- Bill arrives unexpectedly high
How to avoid:
- Decline invitations from strangers
- Choose your own venues
- Leave immediately if prices are unclear
This scam is location-specific and avoidable.
2) Fake Taxi or Overcharging Taxi
How it works:
- Unofficial taxis approach you
- Meter is missing or manipulated
- Price is negotiated after arrival
How to avoid:
- Use ride-hailing apps
- Use official taxis with meters
- Avoid curbside solicitations
Apps remove this risk almost entirely.
3) QR Code Payment Misdirection
How it works:
- You scan a QR that belongs to an individual
- Payment goes to the wrong recipient
How to avoid:
- Check merchant name before paying
- Cancel if name does not match
- Ask for the official counter QR
Visual confirmation is enough.
4) Counterfeit Goods in Tourist Areas
How it works:
- Sellers claim “authentic” brands
- Prices are suspiciously low
How to avoid:
- Assume low-priced luxury goods are not genuine
- Buy brands from official stores
- Treat street markets as souvenirs, not investments
This is expectation management, not danger.
5) Phone Assistance Scams (Rare)
How it works:
- Someone offers unsolicited help with your phone or payment
- Attempts to redirect payment or extract information
How to avoid:
- Decline unsolicited help
- Ask staff instead
- Control your own device at all times
Legitimate staff will not grab your phone.
What Is Often Mistaken for a Scam (But Isn’t)
- Staff not speaking English
- Prices differing by location
- Cashiers refusing cash
- Apps behaving differently than expected
These are cultural or systemic differences, not scams.
Golden Rules That Prevent Almost All Scams
- Do not follow strangers to venues
- Use official apps and counters
- Control your phone and payments
- Check screens before confirming
- Walk away if something feels unclear
Walking away is always acceptable.
Reality Check
- Most locals never encounter scams
- Most travelers never encounter scams
- Awareness, not fear, is enough
- Preparation beats suspicion
China is not a high-scam environment.
What Locals Do Instead
- Use apps for payments and transport
- Choose familiar venues
- Ignore unsolicited offers
- Leave uncomfortable situations immediately
You can copy these habits.
Checklist
- Decline invitations from strangers.
- Use ride-hailing apps.
- Verify merchant name before payment.
- Avoid “too good to be true” deals.
- Walk away when unclear.