Top 10 Scams in Beijing and How to Avoid Them

Beijing is one of the world’s great travel destinations, attracting visitors with its historic sites like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. Unfortunately, some criminals see the influx of tourists as an opportunity for scams. This article reveals the most common scams to watch out for in Beijing, with tips on how to spot, react to, and avoid being victimized.

Beijing receives over 93 million domestic and international tourists annually. As a popular global tourist hub, it’s important for visitors to be vigilant. Scammers often target those who don’t speak Chinese and are unfamiliar with the city. Stay alert and use common sense to have an incident-free trip.

1. Fake Currency Exchange

How to spot: Avoid dodgy money changers on the street who offer very good exchange rates. Only exchange money at banks, hotels or official currency exchange counters.
How to react: Politely decline and walk away if somebody approaches you to exchange money on the street.
How to avoid: Exchange currency only at authorized locations like banks, airports and hotels.
How to get help: Inform the police if you are cheated. Report it to your embassy.

2. Tea House Scam

How to spot: Scammers invite you to tea houses and scam you into buying overpriced tea or other goods.
How to react: Never go alone with any stranger attempting to befriend you. Make up an excuse and immediately leave.
How to avoid: Be wary of anyone who approaches you on the street trying to make conversation in English and offering to show you around.
How to get help: Consult your travel guide for legitimate tea houses if you want to experience Chinese tea culture.

3. Art Scam

How to spot: Scammers posing as art students invite you to art shows where they pressure you to buy artwork at inflated prices.
How to react: Never let anyone persuade or pressure you into any purchase. Be firm and say no. Leave the premises immediately.
How to avoid: Avoid going to art exhibits with strangers you just met. Research art galleries and events independently.
How to get help: Verify gallery or artist credentials before making any purchase. Consult your travel guidebook or local tourism office for recommendations on legitimate art outlets.

4. SIM Card Scam

How to spot: Scammers sell you fake or altered SIM cards that rack up expensive international calls.
How to react: Only buy SIM cards from official mobile provider stores or kiosks at the airport. Ask for a receipt and verify it is authentic.
How to avoid: Purchase SIM cards only from trusted sources like official mobile company stores, airport kiosks, your hotel or travel agent.
How to get help: Contact your mobile provider if you encounter unusual charges. Ask your hotel staff for help reporting the fraud.

5. Tour Package Scam

How to spot: Scammers posing as tour agents promise heavily discounted packages but deliver poor quality or no services after taking your money.
How to react: Insist on seeing proper registration details of any tour agent before making bookings. Never pay cash upfront. Pay by credit card so you can contest any fraud.
How to avoid: Book activities only through your hotel or reputable tour providers recommended by travel review sites or guidebooks.
How to get help: Check online reviews and complaints before buying any tour package. Pay by credit card and report any fraud to your card company.

6. Airport Pickup Scam

How to spot: Taxi drivers at the airport claim the hotel pickup you booked is unavailable and take you to a different hotel where they get a commission.
How to react: Insist on being taken to your original hotel. Threaten to report them to authorities. If they refuse, take note of the taxi company details and driver license plate number.
How to avoid: Verify taxi identification and billing practices at the airport. Arrange hotel pickup directly instead of third party services.
How to get help: Report overcharging or scam pickup attempts to airport authorities immediately. Notify your hotel about any taxi fraud.

7. Counterfeit Goods Scam

How to spot: Black market peddlers sell fake designer brand clothes, bags, watches etc. at cheap prices. The items look nice but are low quality and break quickly.
How to react: Politely say no and don’t engage with touts selling illegal goods. Don’t be tempted by low prices for luxury items.
How to avoid: Only shop at licensed stores and markets. Avoid buying illegal goods that support criminal activity.
How to get help: Verify if goods are genuine designer quality before you buy. Consult travel guides on where to get legitimate brands.

8. Invalid Credit Card Fraud

How to spot: Shops rig card readers to repeatedly decline your card until you pay cash so they can avoid credit card fees.
How to react: Insist your card is valid and try it on another reader. Pay by mobile wallet instead of card if possible. Don’t fall for pressure to pay cash.
How to avoid: Monitor charges on your card and report discrepancies immediately. Pay by mobile wallet when possible.
How to get help: Notify your bank of any unauthorized charges. Lodge a police report if you encounter blatant card reader tampering.

9. Rigged Games of Skill

How to spot: Street hawkers draw you into games like throwing rings over bottles but the games are rigged so you can’t win. If you do win, they don’t award the prize.
How to react: Don’t engage in games of chance or skill offered on the street. They are designed to con tourists. Keep walking away.
How to avoid: Avoid participating in such street games, no matter how tempting. Don’t believe you can outskill a practiced scammer.
How to get help: Warn other tourists to stay away. Report illegal gambling activity to local authorities.

10. Spilled Food Extortion Scam

How to spot: A passerby deliberately spills food or drink on your clothes, then intimidates you into compensating them.
How to react: Don’t apologize or offer compensation. Threaten to call the police for harassment. Leave and head to a public area.
How to avoid: Be vigilant in crowded public places. Secure bags tightly to avoid “accidental” spills.
How to get help: Report any encounter immediately to the nearest police officer. Provide details on the location, time, language used, clothing, etc.

Make sure to check out our other scam guides.

Beijing is an amazing destination for culture and history. Just use common sense, do your research, and say no firmly to any offers that seem too good to be true. Avoid going off alone with strangers and only use reputable providers. Stay vigilant of these popular scams, trust your instincts, and have a wonderful trip!