As more and more foreigners enter China to work, live and start businesses, fraud has quietly become a problem that cannot be ignored. Expats, in particular, are more likely to be targeted due to language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliarity with the local legal and social environment. Therefore, to understand the common means of fraud in China and take corresponding preventive measures is crucial to protect their own security.
随着外国人越来越多地进入中国工作、生活和创业，诈骗行为也悄然成为一个不可忽视的问题。尤其是对于外籍人士，由于语言障碍、文化差异及对当地法律和社会环境的不熟悉，他们在面对诈骗时往往更容易成为目标。因此，了解中国常见的诈骗手段，并采取相应的防范措施，对于保护自身安全至关重要。
This article will reveal common scams in China and provide some practical prevention tips to help expats avoid scams in China.
本文将揭秘中国常见的诈骗手段，并提供一些实用的防范技巧，帮助外籍人士在中国避免遭受诈骗。
First, common means of fraud
一、常见的诈骗手段
1. Fraud by impersonating official agencies
1. 假冒官方机构诈骗
Scammers impersonate government agencies, public security departments, tax bureaus and other official agencies, call or send text messages, emails and other ways to notify foreigners of "suspected crimes" or "tax arrears", and require immediate transfer to pay fines or "bail money".
诈骗者假冒政府机关、公安部门、税务局等官方机构，致电或发短信、邮件等方式通知外籍人士“涉嫌犯罪”或“欠税”等，并要求立刻转账支付罚款或“保释金”。
Preventive measures:
防范措施：
Verify information: When you receive a similar notification, don't rush to react first. The authenticity of the notice can be verified through the official website or telephone.
核实信息：接到类似通知时，首先不要急于做出反应。可以通过官方网站或电话核实该通知的真实性。
Avoid direct transfers: Official institutions should be vigilant when they do not require transfers through irregular channels, especially to personal accounts.
避免直接转账：官方机构不会要求通过不正规渠道转账，尤其是要求转账至个人账户时，应提高警惕。
2. Impersonating a bank
2. 冒充银行诈骗
Fraudsters impersonate bank staff, contact foreigners and say that there are security problems in the account, and ask for sensitive information such as bank card numbers, passwords, verification codes, and so on to steal account funds.
骗子冒充银行工作人员，联系外籍人士并表示账户存在安全问题，要求提供银行卡号、密码、验证码等敏感信息，进而盗取账户资金。
Preventive measures:
防范措施：
Do not disclose account information: Bank staff will not take the initiative to ask you to provide account number, password and other personal information. If you encounter such calls or emails, hang up or delete them immediately and contact bank customer service directly for confirmation.
不透露账户信息：银行工作人员不会主动要求你提供账号、密码等个人信息。遇到此类电话或邮件，立刻挂断或删除，直接联系银行客服确认。
Turn on bank security Settings: Turn on two-factor authentication for mobile banking or use the bank's security protection tool to increase the security of your account.
开启银行安全设置：开启手机银行的双重认证或使用银行的安全防护工具，以增加账户的安全性。
3. Recruitment scams
3. 招聘诈骗
Fraudsters attract foreigners to apply for jobs through false job information, and after the interview, they will ask to pay a certain "training fee" or "security deposit", and even ask to buy the equipment required for the so-called job. Eventually, the expatriate pays the fee only to find out that the so-called job is just a scam.
骗子通过虚假的招聘信息吸引外籍人士应聘，面试后会要求支付一定的“培训费”或“保证金”，甚至要求购买所谓的工作所需设备。最终，外籍人士支付费用后才发现，所谓的工作只是一个骗局。
Preventive measures:
防范措施：
Verify the recruitment company: Before applying, it is necessary to investigate the recruitment company to see if it is legally registered, and whether it has a real office address and contact information.
核实招聘公司：在应聘前，要对招聘公司进行调查，查看其是否合法注册，是否有真实的办公地址和联系方式。
Beware of paying upfront: Legitimate recruitment companies will not ask you to pay anything, especially before an interview or offer.
警惕先付费：合法的招聘公司不会要求你支付任何费用，尤其是在面试或录用前。
4. Online shopping fraud
4. 网络购物诈骗
When foreigners shop online in China, they may encounter fake e-commerce platforms or fake advertisements for goods that are underpriced or overpromised, and end up being cheated out of personal information or money.
外籍人士在中国网购时，可能会遇到假冒的电商平台或虚假的商品广告，商品价格过低或承诺过高，最终被骗取个人信息或款项。
Preventive measures:
防范措施：
Choose formal platforms: try to choose well-known e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, Jingdong, Tmall, etc., for shopping, and check the seller's reputation evaluation.
选择正规平台：尽量选择知名的电商平台如淘宝、京东、天猫等进行购物，并检查卖家的信誉评价。
Don't fall for the temptation of low prices: especially when it comes to big-ticket items (such as electronics, luxury goods), excessively low prices are often a trap for scams.
不要轻信低价诱惑：特别是涉及高价商品（如电子产品、奢侈品）时，过低的价格常常是诈骗的陷阱。
5. Travel scams
5. 旅游诈骗
Some criminals through false travel agencies, promising to provide low-cost high-quality travel services or fake hotel, scenic spot tickets, etc., to lure foreigners to pay and disappear.
有些不法分子通过虚假的旅游代理机构，承诺提供低价高质量的旅游服务或假冒酒店、景点票务等，诱骗外籍人士付款后，消失无踪。
Preventive measures:
防范措施：
Check the qualifications of the agent: Choose a reputable travel agent and avoid booking through unfamiliar or unlicensed travel agents.
核实代理机构的资质：选择有信誉的旅行社，避免通过陌生或无牌照的旅游代理商进行预订。
Multi-party verification: When choosing tourism products, you can check the evaluation of other tourists through online platforms to avoid being misled by false publicity.
多方核实：在选择旅游产品时，可以通过在线平台查看其他游客的评价，避免被虚假宣传所误导。
6. Phone/Internet investment scams
6. 电话/网络投资诈骗
Scammers market so-called "investment opportunities" or "get-rich-quick schemes" to expatriates through phone calls, social media or online platforms. These investments often appear to offer high returns, but are actually scams designed to get victims to invest their money.
诈骗者通过电话、社交媒体或网络平台，向外籍人士推销所谓的“投资机会”或“快速致富方案”。这些投资往往看似有高回报，但实际上是骗局，目的是让受害者投入资金。
Preventive measures:
防范措施：
Prudent investing: For high-return, high-risk investments, be vigilant and avoid trusting strangers or unproven investment platforms.
慎重投资：对于高回报、高风险的投资，务必保持警惕，避免轻信陌生人或未经验证的投资平台。
Consult a professional institution: Before making any investment, you can consult a professional investment adviser, lawyer or financial institution to ensure the safety of your funds.
咨询专业机构：在进行任何投资前，可以先向专业的投资顾问、律师或金融机构咨询，确保资金安全。
7. Family fraud
7. 亲情诈骗
Some scammers will pretend to be relatives or acquaintances and send emergency help messages to foreigners, claiming that they have encountered difficulties or accidents and are in need of financial help. Scammers contact victims via social media or phone to induce them to send money.
有些诈骗者会假冒亲友或熟人的身份，向外籍人士发送紧急求助信息，声称自己遇到困境或事故，急需资金帮助。诈骗者通过社交媒体或电话联系受害者，诱导其汇款。
Preventive measures:
防范措施：
Verify identity: When receiving such emergency help information, you should confirm the identity of the other party through telephone, video call and other means, avoid trusting unverified information.
核实身份：在接到此类紧急求助信息时，应通过电话、视频通话等方式与对方确认身份，避免轻信未经核实的信息。
Do not send money easily: Even if the information seems to come from relatives and friends, you should remain calm and check the situation before making a decision.
不轻易汇款：即使信息看似来自亲朋好友，也应保持冷静，先核实情况再做决定。
Two, how to protect yourself from fraud
二、如何保护自己免受诈骗
1. Raise awareness of prevention
1. 提高防范意识
Expats living in China should always be vigilant, especially in the face of calls, emails or messages from unknown sources. Scams often take advantage of people's sense of urgency and greed, so don't fall for any unfamiliar requests.
外籍人士在中国生活时，应时刻保持警觉，尤其是面对不明来源的电话、邮件或消息时，务必提高警惕。诈骗往往利用人的紧急感和贪婪心理，因此，不要轻信任何陌生的请求。
2. Verify sources of information
2. 核实信息来源
Always confirm the identity and authenticity of any request for personal information, payment or investment. Information can be verified through channels such as official websites, customer service calls or social media.
在收到任何涉及个人信息、支付或投资的要求时，始终确认对方的身份和信息的真实性。可以通过官方网站、客户服务电话或社交媒体等渠道核实信息。
3. Strengthen network security
3. 加强网络安全
Online services used by expatriates in China (such as social media, e-commerce platforms, online banking, etc.) should ensure account security. Using complex passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly updating passwords can help prevent the leakage of personal information.
外籍人士在中国使用的网络服务（如社交媒体、电商平台、在线银行等）要确保账户安全。使用复杂的密码、开启双重认证以及定期更新密码可以有效防止个人信息泄露。
4. Join social networks to get informed
4. 加入社交网络，获取信息
Joining some expat social groups or online communities to learn about other expat experiences and scams in China can help you avoid common scams.
加入一些外籍人士的社交群组或网络社区，了解其他外籍人士在中国的生活经验和遇到的诈骗案例，可以帮助你避开常见的骗局。
5. Don't fall for a free lunch
5. 不要轻信免费午餐
Whether it's an extremely low price item or a seemingly free investment opportunity, there can be hidden pitfalls. Chinese scams often use the psychology of "low risk, high return" to entice people.
无论是极低价格的商品，还是看似免费的投资机会，都可能隐藏着陷阱。中国的诈骗手法往往都利用“低风险、高回报”的心理诱使人上钩。
6. Maintain legal awareness
6. 保持法律意识
Foreigners should be familiar with China's basic laws and regulations on consumer rights protection to ensure that their rights are not infringed. In the event of fraud, call the police and seek legal help.
外籍人士应熟悉中国的基本法律和消费者权益保护法规，确保自己的权利不被侵害。在发生诈骗时，要及时报警并寻求法律帮助。
Iii. Summary
三、总结
While life in China for expats is full of opportunities, it also comes with the risk of fraud. Understanding common fraud methods, increasing self-awareness and strengthening ties with the local community are important steps to prevent fraud. Staying calm, dealing rationally with suspicious situations, verifying sources of information and working through regular channels can effectively protect yourself from fraud. Always remember that the best way to prevent fraud in China or any country is to stay alert, understand the risks and take appropriate precautions.
外籍人士在中国的生活虽然充满机遇，但也面临着诈骗的风险。了解常见的诈骗手段、提高自我防范意识并加强与本地社区的联系，是预防诈骗的重要步骤。保持冷静，理性处理遇到的可疑情况，核实信息来源并通过正规渠道办事，能有效保护自己免受诈骗侵害。始终记住，在中国或任何国家，预防诈骗的最佳方法就是保持警觉、了解风险并采取合适的防范措施。
