China Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams targeting tourists and residents in China, including online fraud, investment schemes, and counterfeit goods, with guidance on reporting through official channels.
Emergency number: 110 (police), 96110 (anti-fraud hotline) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
China has one of the world's most active cybercrime landscapes, with online fraud, investment scams, and romance-based schemes affecting millions of people each year. The government has invested heavily in anti-fraud infrastructure including the 96110 hotline and the National Anti-Fraud Centre app, yet scammers continue to adapt. Tourists face overcharging, fake cultural sites, and counterfeit goods, while residents and expats are targeted by pig-butchering investment scams, impersonation fraud, and task-based job scams. This guide covers the most common threats and official reporting routes.
Common scams
- Pig-butchering crypto and investment scams
- Online shopping fraud and counterfeit goods
- Impersonation of government or bank officials
- Fake job and task-based income schemes
Tourist-specific scams
- Tea house and art gallery overcharging scams
- Fake or overpriced 'cultural' experience tours
- Counterfeit goods sold as authentic
- Taxi overcharging and unlicensed drivers
Online shopping scams
- Fake e-commerce shops on social platforms
- Phishing messages impersonating banks or government
- QR code redirect scams leading to fraudulent payment pages
Job scams
- Task-based scams paying small commissions then demanding deposits
- Fake overseas employment offers via WeChat or Telegram
Romance scams
- Dating-app grooming leading to fraudulent crypto investment platforms
- Long-distance relationship manipulation with escalating money requests
Investment scams
- Pig-butchering schemes combining romance with fake trading platforms
- Fraudulent wealth-management products promising high guaranteed returns
How to report a scam here
- Call the National Anti-Fraud hotline 96110 immediately if money has just moved — it can coordinate rapid freezes with banks
- Contact your bank's official fraud hotline to block further transactions
- Report online fraud through your local Public Security Bureau or via the National Police website at mps.gov.cn
- Preserve screenshots, chat logs, transaction records, and wallet addresses as evidence
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
The 96110 hotline is the fastest route to a bank freeze after fraud, so call it within minutes of realising money has gone, and call your bank as well. Use your bank's official app or the number on the back of the card, never one supplied by whoever contacted you. Say that you were deceived into making the transfer, ask for the receiving account to be reported, and keep any reference number. If you shared a payment code or password, or scanned a QR code, mention it and have those credentials changed.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is the 96110 hotline in China?
The 96110 hotline is China's national anti-fraud telephone service operated by the Ministry of Public Security. It provides fraud warnings, advice, and can coordinate with banks to freeze transfers suspected to be fraudulent.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance