Comments for Postcards from China http://blog.chineseoutpost.com An American who taught in China in 1993-94 returns for a visit in 2006 with his native Chinese wife and their two pre-schoolers. Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:14:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Marcel http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-204019 Marcel Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:14:36 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-204019 I'm a master student from the Netherlands and I'm staying in Beijing for three months. Last night I just got scammed for 1800 yuan. There was a nice girl saying that she was an English teacher and she brought me to a nice little bar. I looked even at the menu list and saw that the prices where a little expensive, but it was also in the centre of Beijing, so it was ok. We ordered some wine, which I also recognized, therefore I knew the approximate price in Europe (12 Euro). Finally we got a bill of 7600 yuan (800 Euro). I was lucky that there was a max on what I could get from the bank per day (2000 yuan), so they paid the rest. I’m a master student from the Netherlands and I’m staying in Beijing for three months. Last night I just got scammed for 1800 yuan. There was a nice girl saying that she was an English teacher and she brought me to a nice little bar. I looked even at the menu list and saw that the prices where a little expensive, but it was also in the centre of Beijing, so it was ok. We ordered some wine, which I also recognized, therefore I knew the approximate price in Europe (12 Euro). Finally we got a bill of 7600 yuan (800 Euro). I was lucky that there was a max on what I could get from the bank per day (2000 yuan), so they paid the rest.

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by A Forbidding City – China Marc http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-146531 A Forbidding City – China Marc Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:23:09 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-146531 [...] a rather thick door, which I would have none of. The whole thing smelled suspiciously like the Tea House Scam, so I took off. Though, the look of surprise on her face was pretty [...] [...] a rather thick door, which I would have none of. The whole thing smelled suspiciously like the Tea House Scam, so I took off. Though, the look of surprise on her face was pretty [...]

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Sandy Brubaker http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-122578 Sandy Brubaker Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:17:20 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-122578 The tea ceremony scam happened to me in Peoples Square, Shanghai about a week after I moved here. Didn't know until after that I was scammed, but felt so 'violated' at trusting these 3 'students'. Ceremony lasted much longer than they said, so I missed going to the museum as I intended that day. But last week I went back to go to the museum, under all circumstances! As I approached I was saw 3 'student/westerner' meetings going on really close to each other, and close to me walking by. Couldn't believe it! Now was my chance not to get my money back but to interrupt their operation. I went up to 2 of the 3 groups and warned the westerners that they were getting scammed and to walk away which they did. Then a young girl walked up to me from behind and started yelling at me and also held up her arm like she was going to slap me across the face. She told me i was evil to interfere and I told her what she was doing was stealing. Anyways a group of no less than 30 young people gathered..there is quite a 'gang' of workers now that there are more tourists! She yelled why i didn't call the police when it happened to me (well I didn't even know how to at that time!). As I walked to the entry of the museum she kept yelling, '**** you lady!' Wow, felt I did the right thing in warning some others and interrupting their day for awhile. Never expected the kind of reaction and the numbers of scammers out that day! The tea ceremony scam happened to me in Peoples Square, Shanghai about a week after I moved here. Didn’t know until after that I was scammed, but felt so ‘violated’ at trusting these 3 ‘students’. Ceremony lasted much longer than they said, so I missed going to the museum as I intended that day. But last week I went back to go to the museum, under all circumstances! As I approached I was saw 3 ‘student/westerner’ meetings going on really close to each other, and close to me walking by. Couldn’t believe it! Now was my chance not to get my money back but to interrupt their operation. I went up to 2 of the 3 groups and warned the westerners that they were getting scammed and to walk away which they did. Then a young girl walked up to me from behind and started yelling at me and also held up her arm like she was going to slap me across the face. She told me i was evil to interfere and I told her what she was doing was stealing. Anyways a group of no less than 30 young people gathered..there is quite a ‘gang’ of workers now that there are more tourists! She yelled why i didn’t call the police when it happened to me (well I didn’t even know how to at that time!). As I walked to the entry of the museum she kept yelling, ‘**** you lady!’ Wow, felt I did the right thing in warning some others and interrupting their day for awhile. Never expected the kind of reaction and the numbers of scammers out that day!

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Rick and Denise http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-101589 Rick and Denise Sun, 30 Jan 2011 07:25:17 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-101589 We got screwed by 2 girls in Tiananmen Square who asked us to go for some tea. Got a bill for $200US and didn't really realize what had happened till we got out on the street and in a cab. We checked it out on the internet and found all the sites talking about the Beijing Tea Scam. So we went back the next day and the 2 girls were across the street at the Forbidden City. They tried to hide from us but we had lasers on the them and confronted them. Told them we would beat them up if they didn't give us our cash back but that didn't work so we grabbed a nearby police officer and next thing we know, the 4 of us and 2 policemen are driving to the Tea House in a police van. Get to the tea house, the cop goes in with me and within 5 minutes, we are walking out of there with all of our cash. Bottom line, if you are scammed, call the police and tell them the details. They will more than likely help you out and go with you to the tea house to get your money back. Good luck! We got screwed by 2 girls in Tiananmen Square who asked us to go for some tea. Got a bill for $200US and didn’t really realize what had happened till we got out on the street and in a cab. We checked it out on the internet and found all the sites talking about the Beijing Tea Scam.

So we went back the next day and the 2 girls were across the street at the Forbidden City. They tried to hide from us but we had lasers on the them and confronted them. Told them we would beat them up if they didn’t give us our cash back but that didn’t work so we grabbed a nearby police officer and next thing we know, the 4 of us and 2 policemen are driving to the Tea House in a police van. Get to the tea house, the cop goes in with me and within 5 minutes, we are walking out of there with all of our cash.

Bottom line, if you are scammed, call the police and tell them the details. They will more than likely help you out and go with you to the tea house to get your money back. Good luck!

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Mark Baker http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-84762 Mark Baker Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:49:13 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-84762 Excellent approach!, and glad you got a refund. Excellent approach!, and glad you got a refund.

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Chevy http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-84657 Chevy Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:52:21 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-84657 Yep I am a dufus and got scammed, but with a happy ending. A girl approached me with the standard "where are you from" line and said she and her friend wanted to practice thier english (I wish I had read the blogs first but i hadn't). So they asked if I wanted to go for tea of coffee and they took me to a Tea Bar. I had a little food, a beer and a couple of glasses of wine, they each had a few glasses of wine and some tea. The bill came it was over 5000 RMB. I was so embarrased and a lot stupid so I paid the bill. The next day I went to the concierge and asked what I could do, he told me he would have one of his employees take me to the police station later in the evening. So evening came we went to the police, they drove us to the Tea Bar and after a bit of shouting and finger waiving, I was refunded 100%. Morals of the story....Do like your mother told you and don't speak to strangers and if you are unlucky enough to get caught, get help from the Police. Another tip...Stay at the Hyatt, they were great. Yep I am a dufus and got scammed, but with a happy ending. A girl approached me with the standard “where are you from” line and said she and her friend wanted to practice thier english (I wish I had read the blogs first but i hadn’t). So they asked if I wanted to go for tea of coffee and they took me to a Tea Bar. I had a little food, a beer and a couple of glasses of wine, they each had a few glasses of wine and some tea. The bill came it was over 5000 RMB. I was so embarrased and a lot stupid so I paid the bill.

The next day I went to the concierge and asked what I could do, he told me he would have one of his employees take me to the police station later in the evening. So evening came we went to the police, they drove us to the Tea Bar and after a bit of shouting and finger waiving, I was refunded 100%.

Morals of the story….Do like your mother told you and don’t speak to strangers and if you are unlucky enough to get caught, get help from the Police. Another tip…Stay at the Hyatt, they were great.

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Anonymous http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-77307 Anonymous Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:10:34 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-77307 Same thing happened to me on my first day in China haha! I actually researched scams before traveling which makes the story even more amusing. Went to Tienanmen Square and was approached 3-4 times with invitations for Tea and Art viewings, plus other misc offers to purchase things. I politely knocked these back, but on exiting the square and walking back to my hotel, a cute girl on a bike crashed into me by 'mistake'. She said she was extremely sorry. I didn't mind because the path was fairly busy and narrow and figured that kind of thing probably happened often. She walked with me and spoke in very good English. After about 10 minutes of walking she invited me to seemingly random hotel along the road for drinks. I had a strong feeling it was a scam, but went along with it anyway, because I had nothing else on that day (first day in Beijing on my own) and she was very friendly. Spent about an hour or 2 talking about various topics and had a good time. When it was time for the bill to arrive I was shocked to see a bill for 1900RMB or such. All we had was 1 Pot of Tea, 2 glasses of wine and some nuts. I ended up paying the bill with my credit card without much fuss because she said the wine was "expensive French wine" haha! and I never checked the prices beforehand so i was an idiot. After drinks she showed me around Beijing backstreets and taught me some history of various things. I got some photos of her kissing me on the cheek etc. After dark she suggested we get some dinner (Hot Pot). I told her that she would have to pay this time, so she bought me dinner and beers (I probably paid for it indirectly anyway). Afterwards we went to private cocktail bar and she fed me lots of drinks and we played various block/drinking games and sang songs to me in Chinese. Of course the bill was massive at the end... Had a good time though.. We went to a very nice Karaoke bar after and again I told her she would have to pay this time. She paid the fee and bought me about 8 beers. Funnily enough, Karaoke was one of the highlights in Beijing for me (I did/saw all the usual tourist things in the later days). All in all, I got scammed yes. But I had more fun with her in Beijing than if I was by myself. So the expense was worth it in a strange way. Probably wouldn't do it again though. Same thing happened to me on my first day in China haha! I actually researched scams before traveling which makes the story even more amusing. Went to Tienanmen Square and was approached 3-4 times with invitations for Tea and Art viewings, plus other misc offers to purchase things. I politely knocked these back, but on exiting the square and walking back to my hotel, a cute girl on a bike crashed into me by ‘mistake’. She said she was extremely sorry. I didn’t mind because the path was fairly busy and narrow and figured that kind of thing probably happened often. She walked with me and spoke in very good English. After about 10 minutes of walking she invited me to seemingly random hotel along the road for drinks. I had a strong feeling it was a scam, but went along with it anyway, because I had nothing else on that day (first day in Beijing on my own) and she was very friendly. Spent about an hour or 2 talking about various topics and had a good time. When it was time for the bill to arrive I was shocked to see a bill for 1900RMB or such. All we had was 1 Pot of Tea, 2 glasses of wine and some nuts. I ended up paying the bill with my credit card without much fuss because she said the wine was “expensive French wine” haha! and I never checked the prices beforehand so i was an idiot.

After drinks she showed me around Beijing backstreets and taught me some history of various things. I got some photos of her kissing me on the cheek etc. After dark she suggested we get some dinner (Hot Pot). I told her that she would have to pay this time, so she bought me dinner and beers (I probably paid for it indirectly anyway).

Afterwards we went to private cocktail bar and she fed me lots of drinks and we played various block/drinking games and sang songs to me in Chinese. Of course the bill was massive at the end… Had a good time though..

We went to a very nice Karaoke bar after and again I told her she would have to pay this time. She paid the fee and bought me about 8 beers. Funnily enough, Karaoke was one of the highlights in Beijing for me (I did/saw all the usual tourist things in the later days).

All in all, I got scammed yes. But I had more fun with her in Beijing than if I was by myself. So the expense was worth it in a strange way. Probably wouldn’t do it again though.

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by George http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-66980 George Sat, 05 Jun 2010 07:10:53 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-66980 Same thing happened to me. An hour of conversation with a bright student who approached me in Tienanmen Square. We ended up at a teahouse where I asked for a specific type of tea I know. The bill came in at 1980 yuan. I argued it down to 1400 something, and put it on a debit card. US$224. Most expensive cup of tea I ever had. This student was quite articulate, intelligent, claimed to be studying Chinese opera in Harbin. She even sang for me at the teahouse. After leaving I still didn't figure it out, and we went to a restaurant together where I suffered an allergy attack. She actually helped me through the whole hospital ER episode that ensued. She even let me photograph her. Would it help to post her picture somewhere? Same thing happened to me. An hour of conversation with a bright student who approached me in Tienanmen Square. We ended up at a teahouse where I asked for a specific type of tea I know. The bill came in at 1980 yuan. I argued it down to 1400 something, and put it on a debit card. US$224. Most expensive cup of tea I ever had. This student was quite articulate, intelligent, claimed to be studying Chinese opera in Harbin. She even sang for me at the teahouse. After leaving I still didn’t figure it out, and we went to a restaurant together where I suffered an allergy attack. She actually helped me through the whole hospital ER episode that ensued. She even let me photograph her. Would it help to post her picture somewhere?

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Francisco http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-60772 Francisco Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:36:42 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-60772 Well, I cant believe this. My first 3 hours in Beijing walking around Dongchen I got offered twice to go the an art fair... which I denied... however later a couple of nice girls approached me and we have a very nice talk and they offer to take me to a tea house which I accepted. After 2 hours of nice talking the bill arrived, 1600 RMB!! I paid half as the girls said they had no more money... This was ridiculous, however I seem not to had any other choice as it was my first freaking meal there... Cant believe this... the rule of never talking to strangers always apply... Well, I cant believe this.

My first 3 hours in Beijing walking around Dongchen I got offered twice to go the an art fair… which I denied… however later a couple of nice girls approached me and we have a very nice talk and they offer to take me to a tea house which I accepted. After 2 hours of nice talking the bill arrived, 1600 RMB!! I paid half as the girls said they had no more money… This was ridiculous, however I seem not to had any other choice as it was my first freaking meal there…

Cant believe this… the rule of never talking to strangers always apply…

]]> Comment on The Beijing Tea Scam & Variations: Traveler Beware by Mark Baker http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/comment-page-1/#comment-58736 Mark Baker Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:56:02 +0000 http://blog.chineseoutpost.com/2006/06/26/the-beijing-tea-scam-variations-traveler-beware/#comment-58736 I'm starting to wish that this post could be made required reading anytime someone applies for a visa to visit China. Sorry to hear about so many scamulous run-ins, folks! I’m starting to wish that this post could be made required reading anytime someone applies for a visa to visit China.

Sorry to hear about so many scamulous run-ins, folks!

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