From my observations both in Wangfujing and on Nanjing East Road the gullible enablers tend to be single men or a pair of male tourists and their "scammers" are usually youngish women, generally obviously from the countryside, working alone or as a pair. Walking around Wangfujing last week I was approached by a single lady who told me she was a recent graduate and currently a teacher. I knew it was a scam because she looked about 40 to me and she approached me right outside the Peninsula. I played along, however, just to see how long she'd stick it out before hitting me up with the "tea" question. She was good and it took her about 20 minutes. I politely refused and told her to come along with me as I really enjoyed her company. She kept trying to get me for tea with questions like, "aren't you cold" "wouldn't tea be nice", ect. I was having a blast just totally wasting her time (I had nothing to do that afternoon). Finally after about an hour she split saying she had to go to a bookstore.

On my walk back to the hotel I encountered an Italian gentleman who was deeply engaged in a conversation with 2 of these scamming women. I politely told him not to go for tea and the look the girls shot me was lethal!

After a champagne brunch at the Sofitel earlier this year I was strolling up Nanjing East having a great time being approached about every 2 minutes and carrying on a conversation for about 30 seconds with the scammers and then telling the women, "you know I really feel like I'd like to have a coffee or tea right now" Some would know I was on to the scam then but others' faces would light up like a Christmas tree. It's quite a fun game if you're bored and out for a walk in tourist areas of Beijing or Shanghai.