Warning - "Black" taxis in China

[rubinacci]

Thought I'd share my bad experience with everyone to create awareness.

I've always heard of people talking about 'black' taxis and how they cheat you of your RMB$100 bills. Some friends have also taught me what to do before handing over your RMB$100 bill to the taxi driver. The trick is to remember the serial number on the notes. But what if you have >5 notes? Can you remember them all? What if you're in a dangerous situation and you start to panic? Can you still remember them?

This is what happened to me....

I was in Shenzhen at about 7pm and it was already dark. I was rushing for time as I had to meet someone at a hotel in half an hour. My initial idea was to go to the basement and join the taxi queue. When I arrived at the taxi queue, there were heaps of people waiting to take a cab. Then came some random dude who asked me where I was going. I told him the name of the hotel and he quoted me a price. I then bargained with him to cut it down to RMB$30. As I was rushing to get to the place I stupidly agreed to take his transport. We had to walk quite a fair distance and across an underpass before his transport came. The car had very dark tinted windows and was black. He then ushered me to the backseat and he sat at the front. At that point I felt something was fishy but was too late.

During the journey, they tried to make me feel comfortable by chatting with me about everything. Halfway into the journey they stopped along a busy motorway and the driver said his friend had to go off 1st, and asked me for payment early. I then passed him RMB$100. He looked at it and fiddled with it for a while and later on said that it might be a fake note. He told me to give him another note in exchange. That sequence occured until I had no more RMB$100 notes (I had 5 in total) to exchange with him. He then asked if I can pass him 2 notes for comparison. He did this a few times as well. In the midst of all the squabbling I sensed something was definitely fishy but was more concerned about my own safety and my belongings. I then told him to let me off if I can't pay him. They then let me off IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTORWAY. I had to walk a fair distance before I could get to the exit of the motorway to hail a cab. When I got to the airport, they checked the notes and all 5 of them were fake.

In summary, no matter the circumstance, never take these taxis/private cars in china that are not licensed.
I'm glad that I only lost RMB$500 and nothing more. If you can and know how to, always check your money for counterfeit notes. I heard there are fake RMB$20, $100, and even $1 coins running around.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
rubinacci

[adidas88]

Originally Posted by rubinacci

Thought I'd share my bad experience with everyone to create awareness.

I've always heard of people talking about 'black' taxis and how they cheat you of your RMB$100 bills. Some friends have also taught me what to do before handing over your RMB$100 bill to the taxi driver. The trick is to remember the serial number on the notes. But what if you have >5 notes? Can you remember them all? What if you're in a dangerous situation and you start to panic? Can you still remember them?

it happened to me during last cny when i was in zh ...
the taxi driver was so quick to change the fake notes and i end up with 2x 100rmb counterfeit ones ...
from this experience, i will make sure i have small notes when taking a cab in china ...
or if u really do not have any small notes, read out the last 4 digits of the 100rmb before u hand over to the cab driver ...
this way .. he will know he cannot play any trick on u ...

Originally Posted by rubinacci

This is what happened to me....

I was in Shenzhen at about 7pm and it was already dark. I was rushing for time as I had to meet someone at a hotel in half an hour. My initial idea was to go to the basement and join the taxi queue. When I arrived at the taxi queue, there were heaps of people waiting to take a cab. Then came some random dude who asked me where I was going. I told him the name of the hotel and he quoted me a price. I then bargained with him to cut it down to RMB$30. As I was rushing to get to the place I stupidly agreed to take his transport. We had to walk quite a fair distance and across an underpass before his transport came. The car had very dark tinted windows and was black. He then ushered me to the backseat and he sat at the front. At that point I felt something was fishy but was too late.

During the journey, they tried to make me feel comfortable by chatting with me about everything. Halfway into the journey they stopped along a busy motorway and the driver said his friend had to go off 1st, and asked me for payment early. I then passed him RMB$100. He looked at it and fiddled with it for a while and later on said that it might be a fake note. He told me to give him another note in exchange. That sequence occured until I had no more RMB$100 notes (I had 5 in total) to exchange with him. He then asked if I can pass him 2 notes for comparison. He did this a few times as well. In the midst of all the squabbling I sensed something was definitely fishy but was more concerned about my own safety and my belongings. I then told him to let me off if I can't pay him. They then let me off IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTORWAY. I had to walk a fair distance before I could get to the exit of the motorway to hail a cab. When I got to the airport, they checked the notes and all 5 of them were fake.

bro ... u r fortunate for losing only 500rmb in such situation ...
they could have rob u and tied u up and get more money from u ...

never ever take private cab alone in china ...
the risk is too high ....

[Vertu]

Just came back last week and when i was there, heard the news there of a fake 'green Cab' which will pick you up , drive to somewhere deserted and robbed you, some are also injured.

Although this cabbie had been caught, wondering how many more 'fake green cabbie' running outside.

lucky is 'green' meaning is for out skirt......

really have to be on real alert in SZ / GZ or any part China.

[sohbuckkong]

Originally Posted by Vertu

Just came back last week and when i was there, heard the news there of a fake 'green Cab' which will pick you up , drive to somewhere deserted and robbed you, some are also injured.

Although this cabbie had been caught, wondering how many more 'fake green cabbie' running outside.

lucky is 'green' meaning is for out skirt......

really have to be on real alert in SZ / GZ or any part China.

Ya, yesterday I met a hong kong lady in Longjie and she also warn me of such schemes. If u have a camera, take some pictures of the notes b4 passing the money to them.

[sainoview]

Originally Posted by rubinacci

The car had very dark tinted windows and was black. He then ushered me to the backseat and he sat at the front.

This would make sure I do not go into the car. Consider yourself lucky to loose only 500yuan – could be a lot a lot more worst. Crime rates in Shenzhen & Dongguan usually go up before Spring Festival – many desperate ones will do anything to get more easy money before they go home for Spring Festival.

[jamesdean]

thanks for the update, will be useful when i go visit china next

[zanzibargold]

There is another way taxis are used to cheat.

I once boarded a regular colored taxi (maroon color) at the entrance of 皇御苑 where taxis queue for passengers of the estate.

The driver was not wearing the usual uniform of taxi drivers.

Altho he didn't use the mentioned method to cheat me of my 100RMB notes, I am sure his meter had been tampered with.

From 皇御苑 to 岗下 the meter read 70 over RMB !!!

I questioned him about the route which he chose to take going to 岗下, and of course he replied that the other way had traffic jams, and therefore the meter-fare would cost more.

When we reached the destination, I just gave him 50rmb and left the cab.

For bros familar with the 2 places I mentioned, there's no way the fare would be 50rmb.

So bros beware even when about to board a regular taxi.... take a glance at the driver; if not in uniform, better not to board.

[7ele11]

Sorry for bros that have been cheated. not only black taxis, licenced taxis(red, gold,green) also do thoese tricks.

ok , my tricks..i kept some small HKD notes in my wallet. everytime i smell fishy wif the drivers, i will speak to them that i got no $$ left, my bros(兄弟) at the destination will paid for me. then at destination said cant see yur bro, can paid next time when call him. if they said cannot, pay them in hkd notes. if they still dun accept, tell them u go convinece store to change. then at the store, change yur rmb to small notes and paid them.

[rubinacci]

Yeah at that point although I knew I was cheated I just wanted to get out of the cab asap. RMB$500 is nothing compared to my other things in my bags. Therefore, I didn't wanna kick up a fuss with the cheats.

It's so annoying. Although I love visiting China for its girls and cheap standard of living, I hate the fact that it's so unsafe all the time and that I can be given counterfeit money anytime.

Best thing to do is to look and dress like the locals. But what if you totally stand out????? Sigh...

Cheers,
rubinacci

[chilicrab]

My 1st time in china @ Sekou harbour, after ferrying in from HK, with a stupid ang moh colleuge of mine.

Told him to not to approach the taxi while I bargined. He felt that he should be "in the fucking loop". The cabby saw him and thats the start of my point here.

Another way was that they will agreed to your bargin fare, then somehow will have an URGENT call from home , saying that his wife/kids/relative is very sick and needs to go home/hospital clinic. Can you pay him the agreed fare, and he will organize a 2nd taxi to send you there. No more $$ is needed. I got my fa-pieo from the 1st cabby for my expense claim, so ok lor. I tot.

I did confirm with the 2nd cabby that i dun have to pay and we got in with the luggage. Cheeky I asked how long more the journey, he says after 2 tunnels and we wil be there. About 20 mins.

I asked how much would I had paid. He says RMB70 ! FUCK ! I paid the 1st bastard almost RM400 as it was supposed to be a "long journey". When the 2nd cabby heard that he says the sekou harbour taxi are a mafia - dow fei. Tells me to call him next time, or take the shuttle bus to Bao An airport and take a cab from there. Safer and regulated.

Anyway, the ang moh had been fired by my company for making damm stupid decision. Try Ang moh controlling china ! Ha. Even us of same skin color and language / culture also not spared. What about you leh ?

[adidas88]

Originally Posted by rubinacci

Yeah at that point although I knew I was cheated I just wanted to get out of the cab asap. RMB$500 is nothing compared to my other things in my bags. Therefore, I didn't wanna kick up a fuss with the cheats.

It's so annoying. Although I love visiting China for its girls and cheap standard of living, I hate the fact that it's so unsafe all the time and that I can be given counterfeit money anytime.

Best thing to do is to look and dress like the locals. But what if you totally stand out????? Sigh...

Cheers,
rubinacci

just be extra careful and not complacent when in china ....

bad things will and can happen even u r careful enough but that's how it is in china or anywhere else ...

learn from the lessons and be wiser and smarter ...
read up experiences in this forum and understand what can happen if similiar situation surfaces ...
always be on the guard ...

u cannot avoid the crime ... but u can prevent it from happening to u ...

[waikeekee]

Originally Posted by rubinacci

Yeah at that point although I knew I was cheated I just wanted to get out of the cab asap. RMB$500 is nothing compared to my other things in my bags. Therefore, I didn't wanna kick up a fuss with the cheats.

Wahpianzzz! I left you alone and you got into trouble. Anyway, you treat this as a first hand experience. The next time you come, you will be more street-wise and alert. Like I always, harden you heart and sharpen you cleaver. I hope you have also recovered from you other lost and concentrate on your endeavour.

[ISO 9002]

Originally Posted by adidas88

just be extra careful and not complacent when in china ....

bad things will and can happen even u r careful enough but that's how it is in china or anywhere else ...

learn from the lessons and be wiser and smarter ...
read up experiences in this forum and understand what can happen if similiar situation surfaces ...
always be on the guard ...

u cannot avoid the crime ... but u can prevent it from happening to u ...

Very wise advices indeed.

Always pre-arrange private transport in advance from trusted sources before you arrive at your destination.

Airports and ferry terminals are "abattoirs" for these crooked drivers who are preying on walk-in customers.

Originally Posted by waikeekee

Wahpianzzz! I left you alone and you got into trouble.

Hello bro you always leave me alone in CP leh. How?

[Jangu]

All the suggestions here to avoid black taxis are good. I have another to add. Act like you don't speak Mandarin when riding any cab in China. Even if you must negotiate in Guangzhou, try to speak as little as possible and act like you don't understand if 100RMB scam is pulled. I've noticed almost all taxi scams require that the cabbie can speak to you. Think about it.

Other cab troubles I've seen in China. The farther S you go, the more chance of trouble.
- Want to negotiate when leaving airport or exhibition hall.
- Don't say anything and point to meter.
- Taxi won't go to 5star hotel. Refuse to take you or want to drop you off near hotel with some excuse. Means illegal taxi or driver and don't want to get caught at 5star hotel.
- Accidents or bad tire common.
- Wear seat belt (ugh dirty). If accident and argument occurs between drivers. leave money and abandon cab and look for another.
- Won't go short distance, even from 5star hotel.
- Try 10-20RMB extra.
- Won't pickup at all without negotiation in Guangzhou.
- Use driver and not cab in GZ.
- Go long way. For some reason, not usually problem for me or not big enough markup to notice. Other scams more common.
- Seat Belt never been used so dirty and dusty.

Jangu

[sexrookie]

Thanks for sharing

Let me share my "lucky" part of experience when I am in China.

I have yet really go much around China but these are the cities I travel so far

Xian, Chengdu, Changan, Changpin, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuhan

I will always check SB forum and see who are the experience bros on the thread and request for regulars drivers contact number from bros. (from airport to hotel.)

or check with the local for recommend driver contact number.

Check with them does they provide service in term of travel within the city while chatting in the car.

You can check the pricing for the next destination so you can have a estimate

As from hotel and moving around I can take cabs which I will always give the exact notes.

NEVER give 100RMB for change

NEVER take a piece of notes out from a stack of notes. (Don't show off you have lots of $$$$.)

Never wear good chain or gold accessories.

Never tell the alien cab driver that you are from Singapore if they happen to chat with you. I happen to be a cantonese so I say I am from guangzhou.

I will always like someone I know in the respective city before I travel. With a local, travel will be much easier. I will always let my local friend to do the talking.

As for my local friends.......

Well, they are those KTV gals I know them in Singapore or from previous trip

Hopes this piece of information. It works for me so far



Happy Chinese New Year to all