Confucius Temple in Nanjing pulls in a lot of visitors. And inevitably, its fair share of con artists. Tragically, the latest trend among them involves gang-like behaviour, whereby children are made to target tourists under the guise of free flowers for the ladies.
Chatter emerging online over the past 10 days or so has seen many reports from individuals who have been the victims of the con.
Then, on 16 May, staff with the Confucius Temple Scenic Area responded to a reporter that such itinerant vendors have always existed. They added that, if found, they are “driven outta town” by inspectors.
It turns out that the flower scam is often operated by five or six gang members. Therein, the women are in charge of selling flowers, while the men watch the situation, directing the women to focus on couples.
That’s where the children come in. Aged 12 or 13 and usually girls, the modus operandi (M.O.) is for them to approach a woman and hand her a flower, as if it is a gift. After the women accepts, the adults swoop in to demand payment from her partner.
And what Chinese man wants to lose the face associated with not forking out? It’s not the rocket science of scams, but it has been working well for such hawkers in Fuzimiao.
A college student in Nanjing, first name Run, told a reporter that he and a female friend had visited Confucius Temple during the May Day holiday and had just such an experience.
Run initially thought that his friend wanted the flowers, and decided the price of ¥30 was acceptable, as The Paper has reported.
But the other party said it was ¥30 for each bunch of flowers; the child had been successful in stuffing three bunches into the hands of Run’s friend.
Run had little choice to fork out another ¥60, to later find out a market price for the whole lot could be as little as ¥10. He had been up charged by a factor of nine.
In response to the situation, Confucius Temple Scenic Area management department are increasing the number of personnel in areas frequented by hawkers, and intensifying inspection efforts.
Well aware of this, the scammers take advantage of loopholes to approach people on the road between the Fuzimiao Metro Station and the scenic spot itself, rendering it difficult for the management to deal with them.
Tourists have become disgusted by the routines. Some have reported that the scammers are nothing short of fierce, cursing people out when they are rejected.
With Fuzimiao our city’s most-visited tourist spot, that’s leaving a stain on the impression of Nanjing which many visitors take home with them.