🚩 Local Scams · Shanghai
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
Even savvy travelers can be caught off-guard—here are Shanghai's most notorious cons, where they happen and how to avoid them.
1 Scam Spotlight Table
Tea-House Scam
The Bund, Yu Garden
How it works: "Student" invites you for "free tea," then hands a ¥1 000+ bill
🛡️ Avoid: Decline unsolicited invites; stick to venues vetted on Dianping/Meituan.
Bar "Wine Girl"
Xintiandi, French Concession
How it works: Hostess lures you to a private room, adds overpriced drinks & service fees
🛡️ Avoid: Only visit bars with solid reviews; demand menu prices up front.
Taxi Overcharge
Pudong Airport
How it works: Unlicensed cab tampers with meter or claims no change
🛡️ Avoid: Use Didi or licensed "沪"-plate cabs; snap a photo of plate & driver badge.
Art-Student Scam
798 Art Zone
How it works: "Student" offers free gallery tours then pressures you into overpriced art
🛡️ Avoid: Pre-book official gallery tours; ignore street solicitations.
Currency Swap
Old Town alleys
How it works: Teller or street changer substitutes your bills for fakes or short-changes
🛡️ Avoid: Only use bank ATMs or official exchange counters; count notes in front of teller.
Fake "Police"
Tourist districts
How it works: Person in plain clothes demands your passport or "fine" for alleged infractions
🛡️ Avoid: Ask to see official badge; offer to go to the nearest station; call 110 if unsure.
"Free Tour" Taxis
Bund roadways
How it works: Driver offers a city-tour "package," then adds secret fees or detours for shopping
🛡️ Avoid: Pre-book Didi tours or use registered tour-bus services.
QR-Code Phishing
Street vendors
How it works: You scan an unsolicited QR code—then your wallet is drained via a fake login
🛡️ Avoid: Only scan codes on printed menus or official apps; verify the URL in your scanner UI.
2 Why It Matters
High-pressure tactics – Scammers create social friction ("too rude to refuse") to trap you.
Everywhere risk – From luxury bars to back-street alleys, these cons can strike anywhere.
Language & culture gap – They exploit polite defaults and translation errors—prepare exit lines in Mandarin.
3 Pro Tips
1
Travel in pairs – Having a buddy makes it easier to spot and defuse high-pressure pitches.
2
Pre-check on apps – Verify any new spot on Dianping or Meituan before accepting offers.
3
Digital pay only – Use WeChat/Alipay on menus you can see; don't hand cash or cards to strangers.
4
Know emergency contacts – +86 10 110 (police) and your embassy's local hotline saved in your phone.
5
Trust instincts – If an offer sounds too good—or comes from too friendly a stranger—just say no.
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
With these eight entries, your Shanghai travelers will have a fuller picture of local cons—and clear, actionable steps to avoid them.