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Continents

Asian Countries

Featured Scams

Scamming Companies

  • SNP Jewelry
    • Bangkok, Thailand

  • Anlogine Consulting
    • Shanghai Mall Teashop

China


Chinese Tea Scam The Chinese tea scam is common in both Shanghai and Beijing. This scam follows a good samaritan model where a tourist is befriended and invited to tea. So be weary of any local who approaches you at a tourist destination. In one common instance, two young people might approach you saying they want to practice their English. This should signal a red flag.

Once you agree to join them for tea, they will take you to a fancy teahouse. Most likely you will have a private room and enjoy a few tiny servings of tea. The server will explain the types of tea and then when your bill comes, it will be inflated to unheard of figures.

Other scams to watch out for in China are counterfeit bills, alluring women, and fake employees. Counterfeit RMB bills are so common that they even can come out of ATMS. Most stores have machines to check the validity of the bills. Also, young women might try to lure a young man to a bar for drinks and then overcharge you by an enormous amount. And even prostitutes might take you in a room and rob you.

Finally, at airports and bus stations beware of someone posing as a worker who helps you carry your bags and then demands payment for a made up transportation tax.

Scamming Shanghai Teashops

  • Bai Min Xiang Xie (2nd flr), Nanjing DongLu, Han Kou Road 643
  • Anlogine Consulting Shanghai Mall Teashop





India



Indian flag

In India, tourists should watch out for taxi scams, distraction scams, and valuable goods scams. Avoid cab drivers that are overly aggressive or offer you a cab rate well below market value. If this occurs most likely they will drive you around to unwanted destinations to earn a commission from various hotels and stores.

Also, there are many distraction scams to get to your wallet including the accidental spilling. Make sure you know where your wallet is at all times.

In a more complicated airport scam, you might be befriended by a local who asks your name. This local will then call another friend who prepares a sign with your name on it. These scammers will then lure you with the sign just outside of the airport.

One of the largest scams in India involves gems, carpets, and gold. A tourist is sold fake or inferior products on the claims that they can resell it in their home country for huge profits. These are all lies. In a more complicated version, the tourist actually pays a fair price for such items, but then an accomplice of the store later stops the tourist and charges an huge customs tax. Finally, in rare instances, there have been druggings in train stations in order to rob tourists.

Russia



Russian police

The police scam in Russia is widespread, specifically in Moscow’s city center. In one instance, an approaching policeman stop you and check your visa or passport. The officer will then create a bogus reason to fine you.

Note, these are not impostors, but rather real police just trying to make a quick buck. Scamspotters suggests you carry copies of your visa and passport in case of loss or theft.

Thailand



Ruby, Sapphire, Ruby

It is true that between 70% to 80% of the world's rubies come from Thailand, but don't purchase any there. In Bangkok, this scam is extremely famous, complex, and effective. Not only are tourist police, tuk tuk and cab drivers involved, but often fake English speaking Western tourists. These people all earn a commission for getting you to one of these shady gem shops.

One common experience is based on a bundle of lies told and verified by numerous people at multiple locations. These thieves will tell you that the museum is closed for National Buddha day or some other made up holiday. Then, they will redirect you to other tourist spots all over town where you will meet many other actors posing as gem shop customers.

These tourist impostors will show you fake receipts, claim the gems are easily liquid, and worth twice as much wholesale. And they will tell you that they have been buying and reselling the gems for years. And they even might add, that they pay for their whole vacation with the profits.

Once at the stores, a sales clerk might issue you a certificate of guarantee, but make sure you check their refund policy. And even if they guarantee a full refund, don't buy anything. If you pay by credit card, Visa and MasterCard will offer little protection.

  • Golden Argosy Export Center, Look-Luang Road, Mananak, Dutsit, Bangkok 10300
  • Sapphire & Diamond Centre, 28/10 Worajak Road, Pombrab District, Bangkok
  • SNP Jewelry, 386 Visutthikasat Rd, Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200
To Learn more visit: 2Bangkok.com | Thai Gem Scam Group | US Consular Travel Warnings

Ukraine



Ukrainian flag

In the Ukraine, scammers use the internet as a tool to scam foreigners out of tons of money. Internet dating and online auction scams seem to be the most common.

Please do a lot of research when conducting business on the internet. Do not help pay for a visa to arrange a date. And when you purchase a product via an auction from the Ukraine, be aware you may never receive it.

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