tagged: China Metro Card, moving to China

China Scams: The China Metro Card Swap

Posted by Mike in Travel

This China Metro Card tip / advisory likely won’t apply to those of you visiting China, but it will apply for those who have unpacked and are looking to find ways to cut efforts in your given city. Read on if you are planning on getting a China Metro Card any time soon.

Getting a China Metro Card

My China Metro Card

You can get your transit card easily at any metro station. Go underground and find a live cashier (not the machine) and ask them for a metro/transit card. I believe the going rate is 20RMB for a card and the you will give some funds to fill your card up with.

The process is straight forward.

With your card, you can quickly pay for metros, buses, and taxis using chip technology rather that reaching for actual cash / coins or, worse, waiting in line for a machine at the metro station. I try to save time through any means necessary and love that I have a card that I can use for all forms of public transportation. As a former credit card strategist, I loathe cash and will do everything possible to get by without any paper or coins in my wallet. Unfortunately, that is far from possible in Shanghai, but at least I don’t have to fumble through my coin section of my wallet every time I commute.

The China Metro Card Scam Explained

So, now that you have your card and you have begun using it, you realize how convenient it can be. You’ve figured out that you not only can use it in the Metro, but you can also use it on the bus, the Maglev train, and the taxi. The last finding is the deadly one.

The scam usually happens at night and usually with foreigners. They give their China metro card to the taxi driver and the taxi driver replaces their card with another identical card. The customer doesn’t know the difference because it is dark outside. If the customer is drunk, even better. The replacement card you receive will have limited balance (less than 10 RMB). The taxi driver is able to tell the balance on your card once he scans it, allowing him to see whether the switch is worthwhile.

And before you think this is a myth, this all happened to me.

How to Protect Yourself Against the China Metro Card Swap

My "Custom" China Metro Card

Now it’s time to get a bit unique with your China Metro card. In various shops in metro stations, you will see stickers for sale that are the size of metro cards. Pick up one of these. Any of these will do. Mine is currently the rabbit that you see below. It was the most masculine one I could find (before you comment). These will cost less than 10 RMB for two stickers. You can negotiate if you wish (for those who love Shanghai Fake Markets).

Once you apply one of these to your card, I can 100% promise you that the taxi driver will not try to scam you. So, essentially, you pay 5RMB insurance for one of these cards to protect your cards for as long as you have them available.

Have you had your China Metro Card Swapped? Let Us Know in the Comments!