Scammed in Beijing

[Trimac20]

I got my phone stolen while waiting in line to see the Great Chairman Mao...pick-pocketed. Thanks for that, Mao!

When I was in Vegas I was 'scammed' out of $20, but the worst bit was I kind of knew I was. In a deserted, ghetto part of town a few blocks off the strip (thanks to taking the wrong bus) waiting at a bus-stop for a bus to get me the hell out of there. Gangster looking guy comes up to me and asks if I want to buy a mobile phone he was for $20. I say no thanks a few times but he keeps insisting. I feel a bit intimidating, I'm in a foreign country and who knows what he might do. Pull out a knife or something, or a gun. So I give it (thinking it might very well be stolen). He then says he has to make a call. He disappears into a liquor store with the phone and my $20. It's about ten minutes before the bus comes and he's still not out, I'm not gonna go in there so I just cut my losses and take the bus. Somehow I doubt he ever planned to return with my phone.

[MrBlueSky_]

Originally Posted by ducviloxi

The reason I meekly paid was... at least this was the logic in my head at the time: I am in a corrupt communist country...

Visiting from a corrupt capitalist country...

[JL]

Whenever i travel out of the U.S(or even in the U.S for the most part), i am always wary of people coming up to me about offers and suddenly being friendly. I know it is very likely about some money scam. I would always refuse to go where they recommend or insist.