1. Fake “Blue Tears” Boat Tours
How It Works:
Touts near Longwangtou Beach sell “guaranteed glowing plankton” night cruises (¥300-500). You’ll board a leaking dinghy that either:
- Dumps blue LED lights in the water
- Drifts nowhere near actual bioluminescent zones
Red Flags:
➔ “100% viewing guarantee” claims (real plankton are unpredictable)
➔ Boats without Pingtan Tourism Bureau stickers (look for 闽A牌照)
Real Deal: Book through Pingtan Marine Research Center (¥220, scientists onboard).
2. The “Typhoon Rescue” Racket
Scenario:
After renting an e-bike, a “police officer” (fake badge) stops you:
“Typhoon coming! Your bike is illegal – pay ¥800 fine or walk 20km back.”
Defense:
- Demand to see their Jingwu App (real cops have it)
- Call 110 to verify – scammers flee instantly
Data Point: 73% of “typhoon warnings” near Houyan Village are fake.
3. Counterfeit Wind-Dried Seafood
The Switcheroo:
Vendors show premium dried abalone (¥1,200/jin), then bag:
- Glued-together scraps
- Mainland factory rejects (soaked in saltwater to add weight)
Spot Fakes:
✔ Real Pingtan seafood tears fibrously
✔ Fake stuff snaps like chalk
Trusted Seller: Old Lin at Dongliao Market Stall #17 (look for his naval veteran cap).
4. “Military Restricted Area” Photo Fines
Setup:
Near abandoned bunkers, “officials” demand ¥2,000 for:
- “Photographing sensitive installations” (it’s just a radar tower)
- “Trespassing” (on public beaches)
Truth:
Actual restricted zones have red-white poles and warning signs in Chinese/English.
Pro Tip: If threatened, say “Wǒ yào dǎ 110” (I’ll call police) – they’ll vanish.
5. Homestay Deposit Theft
Method:
Stone village homestays demand:
- ¥500 “damage deposit” in cash
- Then claim you broke antique furniture
Evidence Trail:
- Take timestamped room photos at check-in
- Pay deposits via Alipay (creates transaction records)
Safe Bet: Book through Tujia.com (verified hosts).
Survival Cheat Sheet
| Scam | Likely Location | Safe Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Fake tours | Longwangtou Pier | “有旅游局批准吗?” (Approved?) |
| Typhoon fines | E-bike rental areas | “我要报警” (Calling police) |
| Bad seafood | Dongliao Market | “本地人价多少?” (Local price?) |
Local Insight:
“Scammers target outsiders who over-apologize. Act angry and they back off.” – Xiao Chen, Pingtan taxi driver
If You Get Scammed
- Film discreetly (Chinese courts accept video evidence)
- WeChat complaint (@平潭旅游投诉平台)
- Recover losses via hotel concierge (they have “guanxi” with vendors)
