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Scams:

Coercion

These scams rely on trapping you in a bad situation and forcing you to pay money to get out of it. They're best prevented by avoiding the situation; once you're in it you may well have no option but to pay whatever it takes to get out of it safely. Many of these scams are bordering on illegal.

Free tours

You are offered a "free tour" of a shop or factory way out of town. Your driver may then suggest that you'll need to buy something if you want a ride back. The best prevention is avoidance, as if you're stuck out there you might well be compelled to do as she 'suggests'. Don't accept any kind of lift or offer of a tour without having a basic idea of where you're going and whether you will be able to get back if your driver deserts you.

Art school

You are met in the street by people who say they are art students. They speak English well and invite you to visit their school. Then they will try to get you to buy one of their works for an excessive price.

This scam is practiced in China, particularly in Beijing and Xian.

Dual menus

A few bars in China, especially Shanghai, will give you a menu with reasonable prices to order drinks. Later they present a bill with much higher prices. If you argue, they produce a menu with those higher prices on it.

The best way to avoid this is to stay out of sleazy tourist bars. You could also try hanging on to your menu or paying when your drinks are delivered, preferably with the right change.

Passport as security for debt or rental

You rent equipment like a jet ski or motorbike. You are asked to give your passport as a security guarantee. After returning the rented goods, the owner claims you damaged them and will ask for exaggerated prices to compensate. If you do not agree, they threaten to keep your passport. People also lose passports when holding them as security or guarantee for payment of a debt. This scam is used in almost all Thai tourist resorts, and is very effective.

Never hand over your passport as a security or guarantee in any circumstances.

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