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Chapter 8 / Complete chapter

Staying Out of Trouble

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Chapter 8 editorial cartoon: They open their heart. Keep your wallet shut a moment. Enlarge illustration
They open their heart. Keep your wallet shut a moment.

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Editorial cartoon · Chapter 8They open their heart. Keep your wallet shut a moment.

Original illustration with Chinese lettering; the English dialogue is below. Humour is a reading aid, not evidence.

English dialogue
  • An unmissable opportunity!
  • Let me verify it first.

After a traffic accident, stop, help the injured, and call the police — don’t flee

If you flee the scene, you are automatically considered fully responsible for the accident. Your driver’s license will be revoked, and you won’t be al…

Cost
No cost at all. Stopping, turning on hazard lights, helping the injured, and calling the p…
Benefit
The person who flees bears full responsibility for the accident. Only if you can prove the…

If you realize you’ve been scammed, call 110 or 96110 right away to request a stop‑payment — don’t try to investigate on your own first.

The brief period right after money is sent is the only window of opportunity. During this time police can issue an emergency stop‑payment order and qu…

Cost
No cost at all. Just make one call, clearly stating the time of the transfer, the amount, …
Benefit
Law enforcement has the authority to instantly query, urgently stop‑pay, and swiftly freez…

Remember the core anti-fraud rules: don’t trust unsolicited calls, don’t share personal information, don’t click on suspicious links, and always verify any transfer requests. All seven of the most common scam types follow this same pattern.

If someone asks you to transfer money, share your screen, download an unknown app, click a link, or share verification codes, hang up first and then c…

Cost
No cost at all. Just memorize the “three no’s and one extra check” rule, read through the …
Benefit
By law, government agencies and relevant departments must inform the public about common t…

Seeing a face on video or hearing a voice on the phone does not count as verification; if a transfer is involved, hang up first and call back using an old number saved in your contacts.

Seeing someone’s face or hearing their voice is not reliable proof of identity. Whenever money transfer is mentioned, hang up immediately and call bac…

Cost
No cost involved. It only requires making one extra call and waiting a few extra minutes. …
Benefit
The Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security has outlined three key measure…

If accused or summoned, hire a lawyer first — don’t settle privately or delete records

You can hire a lawyer right from the first time you’re called in for questioning. If the lawyer requests a meeting, the detention center must arrange …

Cost
Legal fees start at several thousand yuan. Those with financial difficulties can apply to …
Benefit
Starting from the first interrogation or from the moment you’re placed under compulsory me…

Coming forward voluntarily after an incident: Self‑surrender can cut a sentence by up to 40%, and the “statute of limitations” defense simply does not exist

Voluntarily surrendering can reduce a prison term by up to 40%; for less serious offenses it may even lead to no punishment at all. If you confess onl…

Cost
There is no cost at all. You can walk into a police station, stay on the scene and call th…
Benefit
Article 67 of the Criminal Law states that anyone who voluntarily surrenders and truthfull…

Never lend your bank cards, SIM cards, or payment accounts to anyone — “money laundering” is not a side hustle

Renting, lending, or selling your bank cards, SIM cards, or payment accounts is illegal on its own. Penalties include confiscation of all illegal earn…

Cost
Zero. Some people claim “just lend your card for a few transactions and you’ll get a few h…
Benefit
Engaging in any activity that involves renting, lending, or selling phone cards, bank acco…

If a conflict breaks out, call the police first and do not strike: whoever strikes first makes it easy for the other party's counterstrike to be ruled lawful self-defense

Anyone who assaults another person faces 5 to 10 days in jail and a fine of 500 to 1000 yuan. If they act in a group, target the elderly, pregnant wom…

Cost
No cost at all. Simply move to a crowded area and call the police so the other person’s ac…
Benefit
Under the law, anyone who assaults another person or intentionally harms them faces 5 to 1…

You may defend yourself against an unavoidable attack, but only strike the person who is actually attacking — stop when he stops.

To protect yourself or others from an ongoing attack, it is legally acceptable to intervene and injure the attacker. If someone is committing murder, …

Cost
Legal fees start at several thousand yuan; those with financial difficulties may apply for…
Benefit
Criminal law defines what constitutes legitimate self-defense. When national interests, pu…

Who to hold accountable — unpaid wages, wrongful dismissal, financial losses — filing complaints, arbitration, or lawsuits instead of taking revenge

Pursuing legal channels may ultimately leave you without any compensation. On the other hand, resorting to revenge achieves the same result — no money…

Cost
There are no fees for filing complaints or arbitration. However, you’ll need to make one o…
Benefit
Official statistics back up legal remedies. In 2024, labor inspectors handled 137,000 case…

No matter how angry you are, never target innocent people: deliberately driving into a crowd or committing violence in public is classified as endangering public safety by dangerous means, carrying a minimum sentence of three years; if anyone dies, the penalty is death.

Intentionally driving into a crowd or attacking people in public constitutes endangering public safety by dangerous means. Even if no one is injured, …

Cost
There is no monetary cost involved. The real challenge is suppressing such impulses when y…
Benefit
Article 114 of the Criminal Law states: “Whoever commits arson, breaches a dike, causes an…

Thoughts such as “find a scapegoat” or “die together” must be treated as a medical emergency: leave the scene, hand over car keys and knives to someone else, and call 12356.

The window between the first appearance of such thoughts and any attempt to act on them is very short. Among 82 people who survived a suicide attempt,…

Cost
There is no monetary cost. The difficulty lies in admitting that something is wrong at the…
Benefit
This brief window between thought and action is well documented. In interviews conducted w…

Family members say “no one will be safe” or “I’ll take the kids and leave” — don’t dismiss this as anger: close relatives can take such a person to the hospital, and police must respond to any emergency call.

When family members say things like “no one will be safe” or “I’ll take the kids and leave,” close relatives have the right to take that person to a h…

Cost
Registration and consultation fees range from a few dozen to several hundred yuan. Accompa…
Benefit
Article 28, paragraph 2 of the Mental Health Law states: “When a suspected mental disorder…

Don’t curse, spread rumors, or share unverified content online; if you’re a victim of online abuse, document evidence first then report it to police

Publicly cursing, spreading rumors or defaming others can result in detention for up to 5 days or a fine of up to 1000 yuan; for more serious cases, d…

Cost
No cost at all. Just take ten extra seconds to think before posting. When attacked, take s…
Benefit
Those who openly insult others or fabricate facts to defame them face detention for up to …

Read the document thoroughly before signing; never sign on behalf of others or on blank paper

Once signed, the document becomes legally binding. Claims such as “I didn’t read it properly” or “I thought it said something else” rarely hold up in …

Cost
There is no cost involved. It simply requires a few extra minutes to read contracts, IOUs,…
Benefit
Contracts that are legally executed are protected by law and are binding on all parties in…

Time limits for legal action: 3 years for civil lawsuits, 1 year for labor arbitration; once the deadline passes, a simple “statute of limitations exceeded” claim can block your case

The statute of limitations for civil lawsuits is three years, counted from the day you become aware your rights were violated. Once that period ends, …

Cost
Zero cost. Don’t just hope for payment in silence — use WeChat, text messages, email, or c…
Benefit
The Civil Code states that “the limitation period for filing a civil lawsuit is three year…

If you’re being sued or have a court order against you, report all your assets truthfully and repay as much as you can — don’t transfer your house or money to relatives, friends, or companies.

Putting your house in a company’s name or transferring money to relatives or friends isn’t some clever “workaround” — it falls squarely under the circ…

Cost
There is no cost involved. Simply report your assets as required by the court: list everyt…
Benefit
Asset transfers aren’t merely “workarounds” — they themselves constitute criminal acts. Th…

If you’re subject to spending restrictions or listed on the dishonesty registry, first find out which rule applies and request removal if possible

First, determine whether you’re only subject to spending restrictions or also listed on the dishonesty registry — these are two separate situations. O…

Cost
No cost involved. You simply need to contact the enforcement court to determine which prov…
Benefit
There are exactly six circumstances under which a person can be added to the dishonesty re…

If scammed while shopping online or via second-hand markets, first file a complaint with the platform, then report it to police, and finally decide whether to sue.

Start by contacting the platform. Platforms maintain security deposits and strict penalty rules, so they act fastest. Next, call the police: if the lo…

Cost
Filing a complaint with the platform and reporting the case to police cost nothing. For la…
Benefit
When the amount defrauded ranges from 3000 to 10000 yuan, it qualifies as “a relatively la…

Think carefully before and after making large gifts in romantic relationships or marriage

Once the money is transferred, you generally cannot get it back. A gift can only be revoked before it is officially registered under the recipient’s n…

Cost
No cost involved. Before sending a large sum of money, ask yourself: is it a loan or a gif…
Benefit
Before property rights are transferred, a gift can be withdrawn. This legal threshold is k…

Transfer betrothal gifts via payment with clear notes; keep chat records; money demanded under marriage can be reclaimed

Demanding money under the guise of marriage is illegal, and courts support claims for repayment. Repayment can be demanded in three cases: no marriage…

Cost
No cost involved. Transfer betrothal gifts, wedding jewelry, and other related payments vi…
Benefit
Demanding money under the guise of marriage is strictly prohibited by law. If one party de…

Check a person’s marital status before getting married; those who use marriage as a pretext to defraud money can be prosecuted for fraud.

Marriages involving bigamy are invalid. Anyone who already has a spouse yet marries again, or who knowingly marries someone who already has a spouse, …

Cost
No cost at all. Before registration, simply check the marital status listed on the other p…
Benefit
Bigamous marriages hold no legal weight. Persons who enter a second marriage while already…

For home appliance repairs, vehicle inspections, and renovations: always ask for a quote first and stay on site throughout the process.

Appliance repair services must clearly display their pricing, provide customers with a receipt and invoice, and must not falsely claim that a problem …

Cost
There is no upfront cost. Before any work begins, ask for a detailed price list and a list…
Benefit
Appliance repair businesses must clearly list their service offerings, pricing for parts, …

Don’t be a “nominal legal representative” — don’t lend your ID to register a company

The law assumes the legal representative is the person actually managing the company; claiming “I’m just a figurehead and know nothing” does not serve…

Cost
There’s no cost involved. If someone asks you to “just be a figurehead with no responsibil…
Benefit
The legal representative is intended to be the director or manager who actually runs the c…

Leashing dogs is mandatory: failure to do so means strict liability for any harm caused (you must pay compensation regardless of fault), and the obligation extends fully

If a dog injures someone, the owner is generally required to pay compensation, no matter how much fault they bear. Only when it can be proven that the…

Cost
A leash costs just a few dollars. The real challenge is remembering to use it every single…
Benefit
When a pet causes injury to another person, its owner or the person supervising it at the …

If the other person is intoxicated, unconscious, or under 14, do not have sex with them

If the other person is intoxicated or asleep, they cannot give informed consent. Having sex with them in such a state is legally classified as rape, c…

Cost
No monetary cost. The price is having to stop the encounter right then and there — the har…
Benefit
Article 236 of the Criminal Law stipulates that anyone who rapes a woman using violence, c…

If someone threatens to call the police, post intimate photos, or inform your workplace unless you pay up — don’t give them a single cent and don’t delete any records; call the police right away.

Using threats like “I’ll call the cops” or “I’ll send these photos to your boss” to force you to pay is extortion. Paying even once only invites more …

Cost
There’s no monetary cost. Take screenshots of their account info, chat logs, and payment c…
Benefit
Article 274 of the Criminal Law stipulates that extortion of property — whether a single s…

If someone falsely accuses you, you can seek legal consequences: up to 5 days of detention for minor violations, up to 3 years in prison for criminal acts

It is illegal to make up false accusations in an attempt to get someone punished under criminal or public order laws. For minor violations, offenders …

Cost
No cost at all. You simply file a report with local police, explaining that the accusation…
Benefit
Article 50 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law (revised June 27, 2025, ef…

Insufficient evidence alone warrants acquittal; coerced confessions must be excluded; appeals and retrials remain possible after conviction

The Criminal Procedure Law sets clear thresholds for conviction: evidence must be verified through legally prescribed procedures and must collectively…

Cost
Pursuing these procedures costs nothing in terms of fees, but appeals and retrials demand …
Benefit
Article 55 of the Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that evidence must be both authentic a…

For individuals released from detention after a case is dropped, charges are withdrawn, or they are acquitted, applying for state compensation is possible — compensation is calculated on a daily basis.

If you were detained or arrested and later released when the case was dropped, charges were withdrawn, or you were acquitted, you may apply for state …

Cost
No expense is required. The compensation application must be submitted to the same agency …
Benefit
Article 17 of the State Compensation Law outlines specific circumstances under which victi…

If you’re a victim seeking compensation, use channels like 12315, file a lawsuit, or hire a lawyer. Never meet the offending party alone, and don’t phrase “paying money” and “I won’t expose you” as a single condition.

As a victim, you have every legal right to demand compensation from the party responsible for the harm — this doesn’t automatically make you a blackma…

Cost
No expense at all. You can file a complaint via 12315, take legal action in court, or hire…
Benefit
Official precedent exists: after tests showed melamine contamination in certain batches of…

Cyberbullying: First enable protections, gather evidence, then choose between court injunctions, private prosecution, or police reports

Do three things immediately: turn on all platform safety settings, use the platform’s quick evidence‑collection tools to preserve content, and file a …

Cost
There’s no monetary cost. It takes just a few minutes on the spot to enable protections an…
Benefit
Article 15 of Document No. 14 (2023) outlines how courts issue injunctions to protect pers…

The legal route of “buying insurance for a family member first, then harming them” is completely blocked: you get zero money, and the perpetrator faces multiple charges including intentional homicide and insurance fraud.

All four possible pathways are shut down. Buying life insurance for a loved one without their knowledge renders the policy invalid. If the policyholde…

Cost
No cost at all.
Benefit
Article 34 of the Insurance Law states that any life insurance contract requiring death as…

You must obtain a case receipt when reporting a crime; if no case is opened, you must receive a written notice. You can request a reconsideration within 7 days and a review within another 7 days. The procuratorate can also order the police to open a case.

Reporting a crime and having a case officially opened are two separate steps. When the police accept a case, they must provide you with a case receipt…

Cost
No cost involved. Simply ask for the case receipt right then and there. Afterwards, follow…
Benefit
Article 171 of the Procedural Provisions on Handling Criminal Cases by Public Security Org…

Don’t give money or cards to investigators, law enforcers: offering bribes is a crime, and bribing oversight, law enforcement, and judicial staff is punished even more severely.

“Paying a little money to smooth things over” is a standalone offense under criminal law; those arrested are not only the recipients of the bribes. Of…

Cost
No cost at all — you just have to refrain from doing it.
Benefit
Article 389 of the Criminal Law defines bribery as “offering property to state functionari…

For calls and in-person talks where things might turn sour, start recording right away: you can record conversations you personally take part in without needing prior consent from the other party.

When it comes to loans, debts, compensation, refunds, or labor disputes, misunderstandings can arise months later even if everything was discussed cle…

Cost
There’s no cost involved. Simply turn on the call recording feature on your phone or use a…
Benefit
Article 66 of the Civil Procedure Law lists audio/video recordings and electronic data as …

In an emergency at the scene, first film a wide shot, then capture the spatial relationships, and finally record the damage and injuries — keep the original photos and videos.

If you only film close‑ups of a single scratch on a car or an isolated object on the ground, later on no one will know where they originally were. Beg…

Cost
No cost involved. Simply use your phone to film for several seconds to a few minutes. Firs…
Benefit
Article 66 of the Civil Procedure Law lists physical evidence, audio‑visual materials, and…

Domestic violence: Call the police to get an incident report, then apply to court for a protection order — no divorce required and it’s free

Worldwide, over one third of all female homicide victims are killed by their partners — often as a final outcome of long‑term abuse. Among women who h…

Cost
There is no cost at all. Applying for a protection order involves no filing fees or bonds.…
Benefit
First, the risks. A systematic review of data from 66 countries shows that in cases of fem…

Family members have gambling debts — don’t rush to pay them: gambling debts aren’t legally protected, nor are loans taken for gambling considered joint marital debts

Money owed from gambling isn’t protected by courts. Even if creditors know the borrower is using the funds for gambling, those loans still get no lega…

Cost
No money is required. The hard part is resisting the urge to pay when creditors show up at…
Benefit
A 2017 notice from the Supreme People’s Court outlines four key points: Debts arising from…

If an acquaintance asks you to "help scan your face or act as a witness" for a loan, or asks you to read out an SMS verification code, refuse immediately: this is an "AB Loan" scam where you become the legal borrower, not a guarantor

Requests to "help scan your face as a witness" are fraudulent schemes where loan brokers apply for bank credit directly under your legal name. You are…

Cost
Zero financial outlay. The willpower challenge is saying no to friends or relatives who as…
Benefit
Official consumer risk warnings issued by financial regulatory authorities (including NFRA…

Secure doors and windows with proper locks, install an exterior motion-sensor light, and reliably lock up when leaving: physical locks and lighting prevent residential burglary far more effectively than standalone alarms

Empirical crime data from the UK indicates that households combining quality door locks with window locks face only one-twelfth the risk of residentia…

Cost
Upgrading deadbolts, adding window security latches, and installing an exterior motion-act…
Benefit
Analysis of the Crime Survey for England and Wales (37,416 households surveyed between 200…