
These examples are the tip of the iceberg.Īlthough it’s considered acceptable to dupe outsiders to acquire wealth and provide for the tight-knit family unit, this absolutely cannot be said for all Chinese people.ĭecent, law-abiding people are generally embarrassed as it paints their country in a terrible light. Similarly, police arrested 36 in connection with a fraudulent stock trading group set up in WeChat.

The stuff of nightmares.ĭecades on, and still feeling the pressure to achieve financial security through outlandish enterprises, millions of people in China lost money as part of the OneCoin ponzi scheme for which 98 people were prosecuted in 2018. Things were particularly bad in the early 1960s we’re talking forced labour, executions and eventually, cannibalism. It is the worst type of short-termism born out of fear from a traumatic period in the nation’s history in which the government attempted to transform the agricultural economy into an industrial one. Those that experienced the notorious famine following China’s Great Leap Forward (spanning 3 years but with persistent consequences) tend to have a long-lasting mentality of grabbing and greed. Whether it’s counterfeit goods, forged banknotes, tea ceremonies, over-priced taxis, fake monks, pickpockets or pretty young ladies with hidden agendas befriending fresh-off-the-boat foreigners, it’s rare to not encounter some kind of deception. Having absorbed hundreds of hours of analysis, anecdote, praise and criticism of China, it’s obvious that scams are rife on the mainland, particularly in northern cities. I’ve never been to China, or Hong Kong, but have spent a couple of years on a crash course of armchair culture-download, mostly in the form of videos and podcasts. Ruthless individuals are using Tinder to lay honey traps with the intent of committing financial fraud. Fed up in lock down? Looking to make friends online? Need money? Beware.
