Think that if you take a taxi with an apparently legal license instead of a black cab that they won't scam you? Well, what if I told you that even the cab could be fake, let alone the bills they give you. There’s a popular saying in China that there are currently too many swindlers, and that we're lacking good, honest people.







One example: Just two days ago, a friend of mine took a taxi from Sanlitun back to her place, and received a fake 50 kuai note for her trouble.





The fake RMB 50 note





This fake money scam has been occurring a lot recently, especially around Sanlitun area, according to Kiwi Tour. The article uses the example of someone from Spain who works at a restaurant in Sanlitun and takes a taxi home every night. He was getting cheated by taxi drivers so often that he started taking pictures of his money and the car's license plate number before getting in.





Here's how the scam usually works: When you – the unsuspecting customer – hand over a RMB 100 note to pay, the driver will swap the note for a fake, all the while claiming that the one that you handed them was counterfeit.





In the case of our aforementioned passenger, he checked the serial number on the note, which was of course different from the one in the picture that he had taken prior to handing it over. At this point he asked for help from some nearby security guards, who in turn called the police.





Security guards help seize the taxi driver





Soon the police arrived and found fake notes in the driver's cigarette pack, as well as more in the car. It is understood that these drivers tend to do their dirty work in Sanlitun, as the passengers are often drunk and pay less attention (what? never!!). These drivers will also use a fake license (the picture and notice on the passenger-side dashboard) and operate near the airport, train stations, and bar districts.





The fake notes found in the cigarette box and in the cab





The easiest way to avoid falling victim to this scam is to instead take an Uber or Didi, which bill the customer directly or allow online money transfers. However, if you're old-fashioned and insist on touching disease-ridden notes (you filthy plebian!), here are several tips to avoid getting had:





Use small bills to pay. This also protects you from the "I don't have any change scam." Save your small bills for taxis; If you do use a bigger denomination (RMB 100 or 50) take a picture of the note before you hand it over; Check that the license plate number is the same as what is written on the paper license of the passenger-side dashboard. Copy the information on the paper license if possible; Check any change the driver gives back carefully. If you find a fake note, call the police immediately; If the driver claims that you were in fact the one to give him fake money then you can try to confront him about it but we know that they're a feisty bunch and it might be best to back down and find help nearby, following steps 2, 3, and 4. Finally, always ask for an official receipt (fa piao) for additional proof, but be aware that this too may be fake.





Still not sure what you're looking for? Click "Read more" below for a detailed account of the first fake RMB 100 note from new series, and how to tell the difference.

Written by Tracy Wang