Yup. I too fell for the Beijing Tea scam just yesterday. I was so pissed at myself because I really did know better, ruined my whole day (almost ruined the trip, you'll see why later). These guys do this everyday, this was my first so I do admire the skill it took to pull it off.

Here's the ugly story (2-3PM): First off, the approach was subtle. I was already sitting, exhausted from walking up and down the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and Tianmen Square. I didn't even see the two girls sit down next to me, I was engrossed in my guidebook trying to figure out what to do next on this one free day I had from my business trip. I had already fought of countless hoards of the "obvious" scammers, and (this is what's really embarrasing) my guidebook WARNED ME OF PEOPLE WANTING TO TAKE YOU TO A TEA PLACE. AND, I had just spent 2 days in Shanghai where I was invited by 4 different people to a "Tea Festival". But in my mind this was different, this two girls were completely genuine, there's no way they were scammers. They never even talked about tea, rather they were "tourists" also and wanted company. They kept talking about going to karaoke (KTV) but I didn't bite. They asked where I was going next, and I told them "Qienmen" as that's what the guidebook has suggested next. They asked if they could go with me, "uh sure why not", I said. At this point I'm thinking, OK they pass the scammer test, they've asked for nothing, they want nothing, and they look genuine in their intent (this is where I'm impressed, thinking back on it). So we wonder in to Qienmen, an obvious tourist trap if I ever saw one, full of junk stores, designed for tourists. At this point I was too tired to care where we were going, I was enjoying their company (they were also "cousins" btw). Then after for a bit they suggested drinks as if this place wasn't very interesting, let's find something to do. I said "OK", we walked in closest place we could see, it was empty and it looked "scary" she said so we left, and we walked down a side street (all of which seemed totally random). We entered a "tea/coffee place" halfway down the alley. Now I'm thinking, could this be the tea scam? Naw, there's no way this was planned (I know how dumb this sounds). So we spend a good hour+ in this place, I'm not ordering much because I'm just cheap in general and I have no idea what any of this is costing, AND I already assume they expect me (the business man) to pay. Here's where it gets really hard to believe I anyone could fall for it: The bill comes and it's 1200 RMB. Here's my though process: I'm already resigned to pay the bill whatever it is, 1200 divided by 6? hmmmm, the girls and waiter are waiting for my reaction, the girl without blinking an eye says "how should we do this?" and "they take credit cards", so I pull out my Visa. The girls offer to buy me a box of tea in "repayment". I don't understand how I fell for it either, really. I think it's me wanting to look cool and being tired/confused. By the time I sign it, I'm totally dumbfounded, but I keep my calm. I played it so cool they wanted more, so they invited me to dinner and I still haven't figured it out but I know I've been screwed somehow. On the way out I noticed another white guy with a Chinese couple in the tea house (wish I had warned him). I planned my escape and said I was too tired and bailed out to a taxi. They gave me their "phone numbers" to meet up the next day and their e-mail addresses. Now I'm thinking the tea house definitely screwed me, but I couldn't really be certain about the girls until I read this thread last night and everything fit perfectly. Thanks to the advice (dangerous as it may be) of those scammed before me and reading their stories online last night, I went back this evening to confront the tea shop guy. The store was closed, but I saw the man inside so I knocked on the window. He let me in, I said I want my money back, he pretended to be confused, I said you ripped me, he said "how much", I said 1000 (thinking 200RMB for coffee, tea, 2 glasses of wine, and 1 beer, non of which I ordered, sounded fair). I say, "I will go to the police and I will warn everyone coming to his tea place". He said, "I post all my prices, but if you're not happy I'll refund some of it". He says "600", I say "1000", he says "800", I'm surprised how well this is going to I pretend to reluctantly agree (I expected much more fight). He keeps a smile the whole time, acts like he's just doing the right thing for an upset customer. Whatever, I got the F&*# out of there with my 800RMB. 400RMB for a life lesson, I can live with that.

So even when you know it's coming, you can get screwed.

BTW, I had a similar experience in Jerusalem. A seemingly good guy, wanted to show me around for "free". I felt I owed him something so I bought overpriced crap at his friend's shops, then at the end of an almost full day I offered him a tip as I was leaving and he asked for "much more". Then I knew it was a scam, but I held my ground and said "too bad, this is all I'm giving you". He argued with me for a good 15 minutes, but that was that.

Morale of this story, sad as it may be, trust nobody in tourist areas. <--- period!!!