Street Smarts | Warnings | Scams
Tags : property, business, travel, technology, nightlife, events, food, food, expat_services
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Kirishima
Barker
Joined: Oct 22, 2008
Posts: 175
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Oct 05, 2009 - 09:36 PM |
 
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Near Shanghai Railway Station I saw a down-and-out flashy digital camera. Didn't want to be cynical, but there was just no chance it was his. Though, in Shanghai, he is probably actually amulti-millionaire waiting for his driver.
I noticed lots of people round there who were pickpockets, they are obvious when you are by yourself. |
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globalnomad
Talker
Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 96
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2009 - 09:43 PM |
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| Shangstar wrote: |
| Globalnomad, really sorry to hear that. That's awful. Raises the question as to what one should do if one catches the thief. I don't think I'd be able to stop myself from teaching them a lesson. Can the Police help at all? I am surprised nobody else saw what was going and warned you. |
When we were watching the security tape, it was obvious that other people saw what was happening. In fact, other people stopped to see the guy taking the camera, but did not say or do anything.
When I noticed it was missing, we called the cops. They sat in their car, and asked me to go to the station to write a report. I declined, b/c I did not want to leave my family and I had a strong feeling it would not get me my camera back (and I did not have insurance to file).
At the park security office, the guys operating the camera told me this is life as they smoked their cigarettes and shrugged. I can't argue with them, but it hurt losing that tape. |
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Mr Totomolo
FooJay
Joined: June 21, 2008
Posts: 1713
Location: Shanghai & Taipei
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2009 - 10:10 PM |
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| leidelaohu wrote: |
| ^^ It would be fun to walk around some of these places with a backpack full of rattlesnakes ... |
rattlesnakes ?
I think this device would do a nice job
like a rat caught in a trap
Sorry about the loss of your family memories, Globalnomad...I would be mad too
But I think I would return the next week-end, with a baseball cap, sunglasses to not be recognized...and I would try to find these 2 bastards... Then after...it would be another story  |
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Zak101
FooJay
Joined: Jan 20, 2003
Posts: 1605
Location: 苏州 Suzhou
Status: Offline
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Oct 05, 2009 - 10:21 PM |
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We should set up a sting, have some expats video it from a few different angles.
You know, real acting, all nonchalant, lots of fake laughter and an obviously unattended backpack. Coupla guys playing ball in the park with a Louisville for fun.
Very unpleasant consequences for the offenders, or at least scare the BJesus out of them facing an ugly crowd of really loud and furious expats, with "accidental release" of high pressure well shaken cans of soft drink.
See what the "guards" do then ? |
_________________
The luckiest guy in China ! http://lucky-jamieson.com Try your luck.
Last edited by Zak101 on Oct 06, 2009 - 09:02 AM; edited 1 time in total |
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Marakanis
Wonder Wit
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3850
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Oct 06, 2009 - 03:51 AM |
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It's been my impression that the Chinese have this silent consent between each other whenever it comes to ripping off expats. For example, a girl I knew got in a taxi cab and the driver did something that she noticed was different when he put down the ticker to start the cab fare accumulation. It was ticking like crazy and a trip that should have cost about 15 RMB ended up being nearly 40. She called her Shanghainese friend and explained the situation and then handed the phone to the cab driver.
The cab driver tried to get my friend's Shanghainese friend TO GO IN ON IT AND HELP CHEAT HER OWN FRIEND!
Simply ridiculous. So when they say you can't trust Chinese around here, we're not just talking about the Chinese who actually steal, we're talking about all the Chinese because they consider it their duty to help if not at least stay silent when they see other Chinese taking stuff from Expats.
Sick sad world it is over here, but that's what you get when there's a haves vs have nots society combined with an us vs them mentality. |
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Marakanis
Wonder Wit
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3850
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Oct 06, 2009 - 03:54 AM |
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As to a backpack loaded with something bad. How about fake money with those nasty paint packs that dye the skin a bright green color? Then you could identify the thieves for several weeks in public. |
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Mr Totomolo
FooJay
Joined: June 21, 2008
Posts: 1713
Location: Shanghai & Taipei
Status: Offline
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Oct 06, 2009 - 09:48 AM |
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| Quote: |
Simply ridiculous. So when they say you can't trust Chinese around here, we're not just talking about the Chinese who actually steal, we're talking about all the Chinese because they consider it their duty to help if not at least stay silent when they see other Chinese taking stuff from Expats.
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Totally agree with you, Mara
I cannot count how many times chinese hawkers have tried to coerce my wife into :ask the laowai to buy this (bag, watch, rickshaw ride...) ..."
I usually stay silent and don't speak chinese at the beginning, and let them spill out their ugly way of thinking
The most blatant example was last year inHangzhou close to the lake: we were waiting for the small boat we had ordered for a one-hour trip , and 3 guys came pushing for a ride in tricycle all around the lake. I just shaked my head to say no; so they came to my wife, saying how beautiful she was, and why she did not insist with me to make me pay and blah blah blah
after 5 mn, I started to curse them in chinese; do you think they felt ashamed? nah, they just laughed stupidly and after 2 mn went to try to find another sucker
Sometimes I wish I could find a latex mask like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, but with chinese features of course
Ohh Zak, I got a look at your blog...great reading stuff, I am bought as permanent reader  |
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Scouse
Raver
Joined: May 30, 2007
Posts: 415
Location: Just visiting this planet
Status: Offline
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Oct 06, 2009 - 06:32 PM |
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| Zak101 wrote: |
We should set up a sting, have some expats video it from a few different angles.
You know, real acting, all nonchalant, lots of fake laughter and an obviously unattended backpack. Coupla guys playing ball in the park with a Louisville for fun.
Very unpleasant consequences for the offenders, or at least scare the BJesus out of them facing an ugly crowd of really loud and furious expats, with "accidental release" of high pressure well shaken cans of soft drink.
See what the "guards" do then ? |
Let me know when? I am in, as long as there's beer involved.... Cheers! |
_________________
Arguing with your Boss is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while you realize that while you are getting dirty, the pig is actually enjoying it |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 06, 2009 - 07:51 PM |
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bet you anything though, any organised action by foreigners against local thieves will have the cops suddenly jump out of their chairs to launch a crackdown. On us. |
_________________
Americans: The only people who believe that their own moon landing was a faked conspiracy, but that wrestling is real. |
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Marakanis
Wonder Wit
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3850
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Oct 06, 2009 - 07:55 PM |
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| Shangstar wrote: |
| bet you anything though, any organised action by foreigners against local thieves will have the cops suddenly jump out of their chairs to launch a crackdown. On us. |
That would be my biggest concern too. =P |
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officeguy
Seeker
Joined: Oct 22, 2008
Posts: 61
Status: Offline
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Oct 06, 2009 - 08:35 PM |
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| globalnomad wrote: |
A week ago I went with my family to Century Park. My kids were in the little artifical lake with the small paddleboats. My wife was taking video, and when done, she put the camera back in my Lowepro 200 backpack in the top. My DSLR was in the main pocket. 2 mins later, I noticed that the zipper was partially open and my camcorder was gone. I went to the security office to look at the security tapes, and saw a couple on the tape come behind me and open up an umbrella to block the view. Then we see the umbrella go down and the guy lean in to open up the bag zipper and take the camera. ALL WITHOUT ME NOTICING!
Then the couple walks off, the guy hands the camera to the chick who puts it in her bag, and they walk off in different directions. On another security camera, we see the guy's face. That is about all we could do though.
Didn't care about the camera, but the tape was from this summer when my daughter was born and had shots of her and my parents and family.
I hope the f***ers got run over by a bus while they were running out of the park.
My driver told me there are people who work the park looking for suckers like me. Bastard could have told me that before I went in... |
Sorry to say, you can't carry a backpack on your back in China crowds. You need to wear it on your front. |
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Iceberg
Talker
Joined: Oct 06, 2009
Posts: 96
Status: Offline
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Oct 07, 2009 - 06:33 PM |
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They are all shifty and keep a look out for one another the whole time. Happen today at Ikea. |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 20, 2009 - 02:25 PM |
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I usually pay my landlord by bank transfer. I had a few issues with my bank, HSBC, the last time I tried to do a transfer, and the payment could not be made, but it worked eventually when I arranged it in-branch.
Today, out of the blue, I get an SMS from an unknown Chinese mobile number saying that the payment to my landlord (they got the name right), could not be made, asking me to make the payment to a specified account. They also have the benficiary bank correct, but obviously the number is completely different. Obviously I didn't do it, mainly because I did pay the rent and the landlord has confirmed he never sent the SMS.
What's going on here do you reckon? I am worried that the transaction my end has been monitored somehow, or it has been so on the landlord's side. Any advice on what to do? How did they get my number, and the landlords name and bank branch? It makes no mention of the payment being rent, just refers to a "payment". Its in Chinese. |
_________________
Americans: The only people who believe that their own moon landing was a faked conspiracy, but that wrestling is real. |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 20, 2009 - 02:43 PM |
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oh my PC is not compromised, I have up to date firewalls/virus detection etc. It's pretty pucker. And all my statements are electronic, so paper statements are not sent. |
_________________
Americans: The only people who believe that their own moon landing was a faked conspiracy, but that wrestling is real. |
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Marakanis
Wonder Wit
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3850
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Oct 20, 2009 - 02:46 PM |
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If you tried to do the transfer online, and that's where the problems began, my guess is that whoever mailed you was spoofing the bank's web address. Did you go to your bank's website through an e-mail link? That's often how they get you. Official looking e-mail that says you need to log into your account and then it takes you to a website that looks exactly the same but isn't. |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 20, 2009 - 02:52 PM |
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Thanks - no, i went directly to my banks website as I was making an unprompted payment. The reason why initially the payment could not be made was because I did not have all the beneficiary bank details to hand. I can spot spoof emails a mile off, and my system is as secure as you can get. |
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Marakanis
Wonder Wit
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3850
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:00 PM |
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Only thing I can think of is they're sniffing packets somewhere along the line. Do you share your internet connection at all? |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:05 PM |
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not shared, but it is secured wirless. You're right it may be being tapped somewhere in which case there probably isnt much I can do I guess. Then again, the SMS was in Chinese, which I can read most of. You would have thought they'd send an English one if the data they may have sniffed at was based on English. |
_________________
Americans: The only people who believe that their own moon landing was a faked conspiracy, but that wrestling is real. |
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Marakanis
Wonder Wit
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3850
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:11 PM |
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Well, it's either taken from your internet connection in some way, or it's been socially engineered, or it's someone on the inside who doesn't have the whole picture.
You've ruled out malware and spoofs, which means if it is from the internet connection it's likely a packet sniffing bastard anywhere from your building all the way down to the internet server itself. If they are packet sniffing, they may not know English, but can recognize the numbers for what they are. That seems a bit strange though, which is why I still suspect spoof or keyboard recording malware.
Social engineering would mean they either talked to you or tried to talk to your bank pretending to be you. I'm sure you'd remember that happening. Banks here seem pretty no non-sense so I doubt that happened.
If it's someone on the inside who doesn't have the whole picture... Well, who knows. Have you tried calling the number that sent the SMS and pretending to be China telecom and asking for verification of their mailing address or something? |
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MoonOverMiami
PopStar
Joined: Jan 07, 2008
Posts: 1044
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:42 PM |
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| Marakanis wrote: |
| Simply ridiculous. So when they say you can't trust Chinese around here, we're not just talking about the Chinese who actually steal, we're talking about all the Chinese because they consider it their duty to help if not at least stay silent when they see other Chinese taking stuff from Expats. |
No kidding. Had a vendor in the fabric market near Nanpu bridge offer to sell me some blankets cheap, dirt cheap, if I bring him some foreigners to charge a higher price. Unbelievable! |
_________________
I will tell you what just happened in there. That chick just frosted me like a f****n cake!!! |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:44 PM |
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hmm, I have Windows Live OneCare running and regularly run full system checks, and nothing has been detected. I'd also doubt if it's social engineering as nobody has ever asked for my Chinese bank details. Also, HSBC uses the HTTPS pre-fix which I thought prevented packet sniffing? I suppose the most likely explanation is something on the landlord's end has been compromised. He's the only other one who can have his name, bank branch and my cell number in one place.
The interesting thing on this occasion is that at first I had trouble sending the payment. Needed repeat attempts which kept failing. When I went to the HSBC branch they confirmed I had done it incorrectly. But the SMS message says in Chinese that my payment "still" hasn't been sent....which kind of spooked me, as it appears they knew I had problems initially, unless of course its a coincidence. I am starting to think of a bank insider. |
_________________
Americans: The only people who believe that their own moon landing was a faked conspiracy, but that wrestling is real. |
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MoonOverMiami
PopStar
Joined: Jan 07, 2008
Posts: 1044
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:48 PM |
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| officeguy wrote: |
| Sorry to say, you can't carry a backpack on your back in China crowds. You need to wear it on your front. |
Kuala Lumpur too. Was on the MRT and some young punk was standing to my right, with his right hand hidden beneath his left arm to open my backpack. So I moved to my left, the douche bag also moved...it became quite obvious what he was trying to do. Did it a few more times and eventually he gave up and sat down. |
_________________
I will tell you what just happened in there. That chick just frosted me like a f****n cake!!! |
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Marakanis
Wonder Wit
Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3850
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:50 PM |
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| Shangstar wrote: |
hmm, I have Windows Live OneCare running and regularly run full system checks, and nothing has been detected. I'd also doubt if it's social engineering as nobody has ever asked for my Chinese bank details. Also, HSBC uses the HTTPS pre-fix which I thought prevented packet sniffing? I suppose the most likely explanation is something on the landlord's end has been compromised. He's the only other one who can have his name, bank branch and my cell number in one place.
The interesting thing on this occasion is that at first I had trouble sending the payment. Needed repeat attempts which kept failing. When I went to the HSBC branch they confirmed I had done it incorrectly. But the SMS message says in Chinese that my payment "still" hasn't been sent....which kind of spooked me, as it appears they knew I had problems initially, unless of course its a coincidence. I am starting to think of a bank insider. |
No, see, that's not a coincidence. That's exactly what they would say if they had spoofed you somehow. I still suspect malware. Windows alone is not enough and is the most common one for the latest malware and viruses to be able to bypass. I use 4 forms of protection. Spybot, Adaware, Windows own program, and Malwarebyte's Anti-malware program. I run each one at least once a week (or whenever I suspect something isn't quite right). |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 20, 2009 - 03:52 PM |
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thanks, i'll run those and see if they throw up anything. |
_________________
Americans: The only people who believe that their own moon landing was a faked conspiracy, but that wrestling is real. |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3388
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Oct 20, 2009 - 06:19 PM |
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just finished scanning everything - nothing whatsoever detected - clean as a whistle.
There can be three possibilities:
(1) Pure coincidence that I got a spam SMS asking payment to someone with my landlords name.
(2) Packet sniffing
(3) Bank Insider |
_________________
Americans: The only people who believe that their own moon landing was a faked conspiracy, but that wrestling is real. |
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