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Q: I was scammed, and I walked out without paying what they wanted. Can I be pursued for this?
I was walking alone in a street in Shanghai, and a man came up to me and persuaded me to go to his bar. I reluctantly agreed. I told him that I just wanted beer and nothing else. So, we got a taxi to the place. The man was very friendly and even paid for the taxi. He took me upstairs. I was shown a room. It was a nice, KTV style room. There was fruit and nuts on the table. I barely noticed these. I didn’t want any of that. I asked for a couple of bottles of beer. They were 30 Yuan each for one small bottle. A bit pricey but I accepted it.
They offered me two girls to join me. I told them that I didn’t want any women just beer. But they told me that they would just talk with me and that I didn’t have to pay for that. So I said okay. I didn’t say too much to them. My Chinese was not good enough. I just drank my beer. The girls were stroking me as a drank. One girl asked me to buy her a whiskey. I asked her how much it was. It was 128 Yuan, so I said that I couldn’t afford that.
I asked for two more beers. When the waiter came he had my two beers and two glasses of wine on the tray. They were for the girls. I asked how much they were. He said 90 Yuan each. I asked him to send them back. I hadn’t asked for them. He tried to guilt me, saying that the girls would not be happy. I still said no, but at this point I realised that maybe I was in an ugly situation.
So I tried to drink my beers quickly. Before I finished, one girl left. Then I decided to leave. The waiter came in again, and the second girl left. The waiter had a calculator and a menu. When I saw the calculator, my heart sank. I had fallen for a terrible trick. I watched as he added up the prices for all the items in the room; the fruit and nuts that I hadn’t touched, the KTV machine that I hadn’t used, the company of the women that I hadn’t asked for or enjoyed, the wine that the women had drank. It came to 978 Yuan. I protested. I was determined to only pay for the beer. That is all that I had asked for.
But the waiter told me that this was a KTV club and that it all came as a package. I was very stressed out at this point, so I got up leave. He stood up and blocked my way. So I had to push my way out, and I pushed my way out to the stairs and ran down out to the street. After a few seconds, I returned. The staff were still at the top of the stairs. I left 150 Yuan for them on the stairs, and ran out again. I got a taxi home. I was very angry. They had taken advantage of me and my youth, my foreignness, the fact that I couldn't speak good Mandarin and the fact that I was on my own. I was a perfect target for these con artists, but I managed to get off lightly enough.
Now, I am wondering if they can send the police after me to get the rest of the money that they think I owe.
Also, I am writing this because I want to warn other people about this sort of scam.
12 years 4 weeks ago in Health & Safety - Shanghai
If you never said your name, or showed your passport, how will they know who you are, and where you live to send the Police to you ?
Maybe you are relatively new in China, or never being to a KTV. There, when you walk into a room, you are renting it, and paying for whatever is left inside the room if you do not ask the waiter to remove it, use it or not. It is rented by the hour, and it could become quite expensive. I was invited to a birthday celebration at a local KTV, including dinner for about 15 persons, and all you can drink in the form of beers. My friend paid 950 Rmb for the party when it was over 3 hours later.
Don;t ever accept a n invitation for dinner, tea or drinks from an stranger, those are variations of a well known scam here.
If it was an scam, no Police would become involved.
mattaya:
You have tp pay for the nuts and fruits as well in Shanghai? Well there goes the dispute between which city is more expensive!!
In that situation the only thing you should have worried about was getting chased down and having the crap kicked out of you.
As Happy said they will never find you, nor will they try because they know they scammed you.....you were nice to leave the 150rmb.
I have been to many KTV's for business out of necessity but I would NEVER go alone without a local who could speak with them first....and preferably pay the bill.
KTVs are the best when someone in the group can speak some Chinese! My friends and I always grab at least 2 locals to go to KTV with us because we heard that the way they charge might get sticky when theres loads of westerners in the house. They will squeeze you dry and use the fact that you guys can't communicate to be a reason.
However, the KTV that we went to was a big one and the minimum charge was RMB 2,000 for an unlimitted amount of time. It was a big room...... and the bill ended up RMB 3,500. We knew everything charged because we had our local trusted friends to straighten out and translate the bill for our party of 20 ppl.
So...... I say learn the minimum charge and the package that your walking into. Always grab a local friend or two that can translate.
So will you try KTV.........again?! =)
** As for the police thing......you're without a trace. Wonder if they had cameras..... they could track u down if they wanted. How many expats are registered in your town anyways? But if its a scam- they wont, yah? You've always got a CASE to FIGHT.... if they ever come knockin on your door......., no?
Don't. Worry About It at all. No polices will chase you for this obvious scam. but you should be more carefully, this time just one man try to stop you leave that room, next time there could be several men around with you and wouldn't let you go unless you pay the money what they want.
Ennius21:
Yes. It could have been a very, very dark situation. I must be careful to avoid such problems in the future. I'm afraid that I must assume that everyone is out to get me.
The only mistake you made aside from actually getting in the cab with a stranger.....is going back to leave 150rmb. You were right to get the hell outta there.
In the future, beware of random girls approaching you to "practice their English". They may be trying to scam you with one of the oldest tricks in the book. The Tea House Scam. In a nutshell, if you are alone, don't go anywhere with local strangers.
Ennius21:
Yes. You're right. I am more cautious now. But, regarding the 150 Yuan, I did ask for the beers and I believe in paying for goods that I ask for.
City of over 20million people they sure will have a hard time trying to find you.
you got out of this scam lightly. Don't fret, there's no chance there'll be future repercussions. If these dudes are running a scam, they won't go attracting the attention of the police. For every one of you, there's probably 5 others that actually do pay up. So they're still ahead.
Ennius21:
Yes. Those poor suckers. That is why I want to warn people about all these dirty tricks in Shanghai.
You won't be pursued and I don't know why you are thinking they will pursue you when it should be you pursuing them. If they took advantage of you stand up you call the police if you think that's what happened. If you want to help others out don't let these scam artists get away on a free ride. Explain to them what they had done and get involved. There is no reason to run. Can they prove that you drank their wine and ate their nuts? No! Because even if they have a video on the video it should show how you were acting when they were offering those goodies.
Jeez , wake up buddy ! A guy takes you in cab to a pub/club , well i hope you`ve learned sthg , this happened to a Yank friend of mine , he got out with a punch or two and lost 400rmb , its all a scam , China is good & bad , Beware !
