Encountering fakes – fake alcohol, fake accessories, fake just-about-everything – is simply a part of living life in China. And while you know that the Prada handbag you’re buying off the street corner is probably a fake, what about those items that you assume and expect to be real? It’s best to realize that getting ripped off is inevitable here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be a smart consumer to minimize the risk. Check out these commonly faked items and ways to spot whether what you have is the real deal, or just another look-alike.

1) Fake alcohol

This is probably one of the widest spread, most underreported distribution of fakes in the country. After all, how many bar patrons actually pay close attention to what’s being poured in their glasses? As long as the alcohol has the desired effect, many people simply ignore the foul smelling liquid in their glasses. This is the easiest and most obvious way to tell if your alcohol is fake. When you smell it, does your glass have hints of rubbing alcohol or formaldehyde instead of oak or caramel? That would most likely be the methanol that many fake alcohol distributors add to their “products.”

If it smells bad, it most likely is bad. If you have access to the actual liquor bottle, check for any grammatical errors on the label. On unopened bottles, there are often serial numbers lining the area around the bottle cap. Many liquor producers print the serial number on the ridge, causing the numbers to be bumpy and, therefore, harder to replicate. Fake bottles will often have a serial number below the ridge for ease of printing. And don’t think that just because you buy your alcohol at a supermarket instead of a bar that you’re getting the real thing. I personally had to return a bottle of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum to Carrefour because it was a fake (in this case, it was the taste that gave it away). Imagine my surprise when the woman at Customer Service didn’t even flinch when I told her why I was returning it. She just handed me a form to fill out and I got my money back. This indicates that mine was not an unusual experience.

2)  Fake pearls
While it’s relatively easy to find a number of Pearl Markets throughout China, it’s rather more difficult to find real pearls in these markets. Many distributors use pearl powder, glass, plastic, or resin to create strands of “pearls” that are sold for 10 RMB a pop. There are ways to tell if you’re buying fakes, but beware that there is really no fool proof way to make sure unless you pay to get them appraised – and by then, it’s already too late. In the first place, if you’re buying a strand of pearls for 10 RMB, they’re fake. Also keep an eye out for the shape – real pearls are very rarely perfectly round. In most cases they have some bumps or ridges due to the natural shaping process when they’re formed. Real pearls tend to be cool to the touch but warm up rather quickly when touched to your skin. Plastic or resin pearls will be warm as soon as you touch them, while glass ones will take much longer to warm. The drill holes in a real strand of pearls should be small, with no flaking near the opening. Fake ones will usually have larger holes, flake near the opening, and sometimes even reveal the inner bead on which the pearl powder is coated. Lastly, take your strand of pearls out into the sun – if they are real, they will likely have slight pink or yellow tints to them, and each pearl will vary in colour (http://www.qifujew.com). Fake ones will all be uniformly one colour (usually a white or cream) and will have a more dull, matte finish.

3)  Fake money
If you’ve lived in or even visited China, you’ve most likely been a victim to fake money. Be sure to never let other people handle your money or leave sight of you with it in their hands – this often means that they are switching your real 100RMB note with a fake one. It seems that no denomination of currency is too big or small to fall victim to counterfeit, so it’s important to check all your bills. This may take some time at first, but once you practice for a while, you’ll be able to spot a fake RMB note almost immediately.

So, how to tell if you’ve been handed a fake? There are several methods of checking. One of the easiest ways to tell real currency from fake is by rubbing a finger against the collar on Chairman Mao’s picture. His collar will have a raised, slightly rougher texture compared to the rest of the bill. If the entire bill is completely smooth, you have a fake. Hold the bill up to the light. On the left side, Chairman Mao’s face should be perfectly clear, not blurry or smudged. Same goes for the red and blue symbol inside the red circle located below the serial number. If the blue and red symbols aren’t even or there is a white gap between their borders, it is fake. The denomination number found next to these symbols should appear green when looking straight at it, but should look brown when you tilt the bill upwards and look at it from the bottom. If the number does not change color, you know you have a fake. Lastly, on the top right corner, there is a circular design just below the denomination number. Tilt it upwards so that you are looking at it from the bottom. You should see a faint, slightly raised replica of the denomination number (http://www.suite101.com). As you can see, there are many ways to tell whether your RMB notes are real or fake. I would recommend trying them all, then picking the one or two you find easiest to notice and keeping an eye out for those.

4)  Fake taxis
These are a bit harder to tell than fake money, as there are many different colours and models of taxis roaming the streets. The most important thing to keep in mind is that real taxi drivers use their meters. Anyone who does not start their meter as the car begins to move will attempt to rip you off. If this happens, it’s best to get out immediately and/or report their license number to the police. You’ll most likely find these fake taxis congregating around mass transportation areas, like airports and train stations. While it may be tempting to try and negotiate a fare with the driver himself, keep in mind the countless stories of tourists agreeing on a price, only to be held hostage in the car until a much larger sum is paid. Real taxis will wait in the queue line of these transportation hubs, fake ones will not.

Another practice fake taxis employ is using fake meters that run two to three times as fast as real taxis (http://www.suite101.com). Be sure you know how much per kilometer the taxi charges (signs will be posted, in English, somewhere inside the cab), and make sure that it corresponds to the distance you’ve traveled. If you find yourself being charged more per kilometer than is stated in the taxi, write down the taxi number and call the police if necessary. Oftentimes, if the fake taxi sees you writing their number down, they will charge you less to avoid confrontation with the police.
 

Related links
Top Ten Shanzhai Phenomena in 2009
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Fight the Bootlegs: Consumer Rights in China

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Keywords: how to spot fake money China fake alcohol China How to spot fakes China