China (CN)
China is one of the world's largest economies and most important expat destinations, combining global business hubs such as Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou with deep history, fast infrastructure, and a highly digital daily-life ecosystem.
Scam Warnings
Common scams targeting expats in China.
China is generally safe for street crime in major cities, but expats face significant digital threats: WeChat and Alipay payment scams, fake police and embassy phone calls, visa agent fraud and illegal-work traps. China's Ministry of Public Security intercepted over 32 million fraud calls and blocked 2.1 billion fraudulent messages in 2025. Three golden rules: verify every unexpected payment request via a known phone number before paying; never start work before your work permit and residence permit are validated; and always demand a fapiao (official tax invoice) for significant transactions.
Fake Police or Embassy Phone Call (公检法诈骗)
criticalA caller impersonating a Public Security Bureau (PSB) officer, procuratorate, court or embassy claims you are linked to a money-laundering case, illegal parcel or immigration violation. They instruct you to keep the call secret, transfer funds to a "safe account" to "prove your innocence", or hand over personal data. This is the highest-value fraud category in China, targeting both locals and expats. Spoofed numbers may appear to be from official institutions.
- - Caller threatens arrest, deportation or account freezing if you do not comply immediately
- - You are told to keep the call confidential and not tell family or colleagues
- - Request to transfer money to an unfamiliar account to "protect" your assets
- - Caller asks you to download a "supervision app" or share your screen
- - Official-looking number but with "00" or "+" international prefix (sign of overseas fraud)
WeChat Payment Impersonation
criticalFraudsters clone or impersonate WeChat contacts — landlords, schools, colleagues or service providers — by creating accounts with identical names and profile photos. They send urgent payment requests or QR codes for rent, fees or purchases. The payment goes to the scammer, not the intended recipient. This is among the most reported fraud types affecting expats in China in 2025.
- - A WeChat contact with a "recently added" badge sending an unexpected payment request
- - Avatar and name are identical to a known contact but it is a different account (check WeChat ID)
- - Urgency: payment demanded within minutes to avoid a penalty
- - Payment QR code sent via chat rather than through an official merchant page
- - Request to pay a "new" bank account or WeChat wallet you have not used before
Illegal Work Visa Trap
criticalEmployers in teaching, consulting, performing or other sectors ask foreign nationals to start work before the work permit (工作许可证) and residence permit (居留许可) are issued, insisting "everyone does it" or that documents are "being processed". Working on a tourist, business (M) or other non-work visa is illegal and results in fines, deportation and future entry bans, with the foreign employee bearing all personal risk.
- - Employer says you can start immediately on a tourist, business or student visa
- - Salary is paid in cash or offshore without a formal employment contract
- - HR or employer is vague or evasive about the work permit application timeline
- - "Everyone here does it" — peer-normalisation of illegal status
- - No formal employment contract provided before you begin work
Fake Visa and Work Permit Agent
criticalAgents promise guaranteed category A work permits, fast-track residency, or shortcuts involving fake credentials (degrees, police clearances). Some hold onto original passports for extended periods creating a hostage situation. These agents charge large fees for services they cannot legally deliver, and using fraudulent documents is a criminal offence in China.
- - Agent "guarantees" approval or specific permit categories — no agent can do this legally
- - Agent asks to retain your original passport for more than a few days
- - Offers to source a degree certificate, police clearance or health certificate on your behalf
- - No written scope of services or fee agreement provided
- - Agent cannot explain clearly which government portal or agency will process your application
Rental Listing Bait-and-Switch
warningThe listed apartment is "just rented" when you arrive at the agency, which then shows you inferior properties at higher prices. A separate variant: the agent or landlord requests a deposit before the police registration (居住证 / 临时住宿登记) requirement can be met, then delays or obstructs it, creating immigration compliance risk for the tenant.
- - Property photos are unusually professional or far better than the price would suggest
- - Agent says the advertised property is unavailable immediately after you make contact
- - Pressure to pay a deposit before viewing the property or signing a contract
- - Landlord or agent reluctant to explain the police registration process or guarantee it
- - No proof of ownership (房产证 / 不动产权证书) shown before deposit is requested
Fake Vendor and Counterfeit Goods Fraud
warningElectronics, cosmetics, medicines, luxury goods and food supplements on informal channels (WeChat groups, grey-market stalls, unofficial platforms) can be counterfeit or dangerous. For businesses, fake fapiao (official tax invoices) are used to defraud companies claiming false VAT credits or to validate fraudulent transactions.
- - Price significantly below official prices on JD.com or Tmall for the same product
- - Seller is unwilling to provide a fapiao or claims it is not available
- - Product packaging has minor spelling errors, blurry logos or inconsistent font
- - Seller insists on payment outside the platform (e.g., direct WeChat transfer rather than Alipay escrow)
- - For business invoices: fapiao number cannot be verified on the national tax authority portal (invoice.tax.gov.cn)
Tea House and Bar Overcharging
warningA common tourist scam near major sites in Beijing (Tiananmen, Wangfujing), Shanghai (the Bund, Yu Garden) and other cities: friendly locals or students invite you to a tea ceremony, art exhibition or bar, and leave you with an enormous bill of hundreds or thousands of yuan. Staff may become aggressive if you refuse to pay.
- - Unsolicited approach from friendly strangers near tourist sites who want to practise English
- - Invitation to a tea house, gallery or bar slightly off the main street
- - No price list shown before orders are placed
- - You are taken to a private room away from the main public area
Package Customs Phishing
warningSMS or WeChat messages claim an imported parcel is held at customs and requires personal data input or a small fee payment via a link. The link leads to a phishing site that harvests ID, passport number and bank details. Expats who regularly receive international parcels are specifically targeted.
- - Unsolicited SMS with a link to pay "customs clearance fees" for a parcel you did not order or expect
- - Shortened URL (e.g., bit.ly) or a domain that resembles but is not a major courier's official site
- - Request for national ID number, passport number or bank card details
- - Urgency: "parcel will be returned if not cleared within 24 hours"
Romance and Investment Scam (Sha Zhu Pan / Pig Butchering)
criticalSophisticated long-term scam targeting expats via dating apps, LinkedIn or WeChat. Scammer builds a romantic or friendship relationship over weeks or months, then introduces a "sure-fire" crypto or forex investment platform. Victims invest increasing amounts and see apparent gains, but withdrawals are blocked with excuses until the platform vanishes. China's MPS identified this as one of the fastest-growing fraud categories in 2025.
- - Online contact quickly becomes romantically or deeply personally invested
- - Contact mentions unusually profitable investments and offers to "teach you" their method
- - Investment platform is not listed on any regulated exchange or financial authority register
- - Early small withdrawals succeed, encouraging larger deposits — then withdrawals are blocked
- - Any reason given to deposit more money to "unlock" previous funds
Reporting
Where to report: 110 — police emergency (all cities). 96110 — National Anti-Fraud Centre hotline (free, Mandarin; some cities offer foreign language support). National Anti-Fraud Centre app (国家反诈中心) for reporting and blocking fraud calls. 12315 — consumer complaints (State Administration for Market Regulation, SAMR). Local Public Security Bureau (PSB) station for in-person fraud reports. Your home-country embassy for consular assistance.
Consumer helpline: 12315 — China's national consumer complaint hotline and online platform (handled 43.8 million complaints in 2025). Complaints can also be filed online via the 12315 platform. Under the Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law (2013, implementing regulation effective 1 July 2024), consumers have a 7-day no-reason return right for e-commerce purchases (Article 25). SEPA does not apply — China is not in the SEPA zone.