Scammed by a pairof cute young women in Shanghai

Scammed in Shanghai by 2 pretty girls

Two weeks ago I arrived in China for a solo holiday to visit Shanghai for the Expo and the sights. I was also flying to Beijing for a week for a look. 
I missed my flight back to Australia and had some time to kill in Shanghai.
I was feeling a little lonely and vunerable and even after reading the warnings online and in the Lonely planet guide book I still managed to get scammed. I was on my way back to the Captain hostel where I was staying. Trudging near the massive Shopping centers near Peoples square and Raffles plaza I felt tired and emotional. Two young women latched onto me, asking where was I from, the usual drill. Despite all the alarm bells ringing in my head I kept talking to them. No harm in that was there? They stroked my ego and made me feel good about myself. Then when they suggested we go to a nearby bar I can't believe that I heard myself accept. I told them no expensive tea houses yeah. I was a lamb to the slaughter. At the bar, a place called Sundy Coffee high up above the shops. They ordered whiskey, fruit platters and tea. In about half an hour I was confronted with the bill of 2565 RMB, around $400A I think I was in denial, I didn't believe this was happening to me. I put it on the credit card, I certainly didn't have that much cash on me. Then I hear myself talking to them about going to a karaoke bar. Talk about being a glutton for punishment. Stupid, stupid, stupid. A short walk and a lift upstairs somewhere to a place called Zen run bar. I said no whisky Ok, I had 2 small beers, and they had some drinks that they said were soft drinks. There was also another little fruit platter with nuts and sultanas. We sung on the karaoke machine and it was fun. But it wasn't worth what it cost me,  1131 RMB, nearly $200A.
I meekly paid via my Visa card and on the street we parted ways. I must have been in shock. Am I really that dumb to let this happen. I've since read warnings about insisting that you only go to somewhere like Starbucks if you get tempted by these pretty manipulative young women. I think I've learnt an important $600 lesson here. When I'm feeling lonely and vulnerable remember to use intelligence and not be ruled by emotion. 

I fell for a scam at Beijing airport despite reading about it in guide books before I travelled.

We had a 2 hour journey to airport (London) had to be at airport 3 hours before flight, then flew for 14 hours, so was pretty tired when landed in Beijing.

After picking up our luggage on way out we had taxi touts approach us, I just thought yes we need a taxi, and went along with him, at the back of my mind I was thinking that this beats the taxi queue. He took us to an underground carpark, put luggage in boot then demanded payment for the journey to the hotel. I worked out the currency on my calculater, it was triple what was noted in the guides, I refused to pay and he kept going on, and on, in the end I paid but he said he didnt have change! I also felt that he already had my luggage, and was worried I wouldn't get it back. He was very good at not asking for the money until we were all settled and belted in the car and luggage stored in boot!

When we arrived at the hotel I think the driver knew he couldnt pull up at the entrance and we were dropped off across a busy road, i made sure to ask for my change, he was slow handing it over, he thought he was going to get a tip, we then had to negotiate a busy road with all our luggage!

On all our other taxi journeys in Beijing the taxi drivers were professional.

I have definately learnt my lesson, to always go to the taxi rank and travel in a metered taxi!!!

Jenny

I know loneliness can make us do stupid things, but this is like you said, stupid (3x).
Since you guys are all consenting adults, its a 600 dollars escort service thingy.

It amazes me how people still fall for this thing. What is even more amazing is that you know what they were up to. They must be so cute then.

ouch 600 bucks! you've had a shocker mate. all the signs you knew about were there plain as day!

[ Edit: Edited on 04-Oct-2010, at 10:07 by rob_harvs ]

Y'know, you always say: "It'll never happen to me. I'll never fall for it." But then it does.

A similar situation happened to me in Beijing. It was my last day in the city, I was feeling lonely, and a nice couple- students, apparently, starting making conversation with me. Sure, I thought, we can get a cup of tea somewhere. We didn't even have any alcohol- but then they brought the bill, and it was insane: a fruit platter and 3 cups of tea for 800 yuan! (about $120 CDN) And of course, they claim to be poor students with no money...

However, they only got me once. After that, I quickly parted company with them!

I am still waiting for the punchline guys ......

Reads like a badly written magazine article-is anyone else here old enough to remember magazines?

Or were you all born yesterday?

Been back in Thailand for 2 days in BKK and it seems like scam central in comparison to 2 years back! Cant seem to trust anyone who offers to help. Some guy told me Koh Sahn Rd was closed today and that i had to go to the buddha!!!! I told him no thanks!Made me quite wary to trust anyone now to be fair. In the space of about 5 minutes yesterday I had 3 people trying to scam me, luckily im clued up on this. Note to fgellow travellers read up on the scams before you gp so you are clued up and know who to trust. Travelling on my own so its not so easy. Also staying in a guest house right out of town so havent met anyone yet. Hence why im heading out of bkk and up north!

Dan

The punchline is that only man get scammed by pretty girls? Don't fall for that guys, girls are cunning especially those without money...