Destinations › China › Shanghai › Scams
Shanghai, China
10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Shanghai, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Dating-app contacts steering matches to specific bars or karaoke venues where an enormous bill is produced and staff obstruct departure until it is paid.
Counterfeit 100-yuan notes passed as change, particularly by taxi drivers and street vendors at night. Mobile payment is now the practical defence.
Unlicensed cars touting at airports and major stations, and licensed taxis taking extended routes or claiming the meter is broken. Official ranks and ride apps avoid both.
The 'art student' variant: someone claiming to be a student invites you to a graduation exhibition, where heavy pressure is applied to buy mass-produced scrolls at gallery prices.
The teahouse scam: friendly English-speaking strangers near the waterfront promenade and the main shopping street invite you to a traditional tea ceremony, then produce a bill of several thousand yuan. Decline invitations from strangers in these areas.
Unlicensed 'tour guides' at landmarks offering commentary and then demanding a substantial fee, sometimes following visitors to insist.
Touts outside major attractions and transport hubs selling tickets that are invalid, already used, or simply the standard fare at a markup.
Pickpocketing on crowded metro lines and at the waterfront promenade during holiday periods.
Bars in the nightlife districts adding unordered bottles and undisclosed hostess or table charges to bills.
Counterfeit branded goods in the fake-market malls, sold with fabricated authentication and no recourse after purchase.
