Beijing is an exciting city! Stay updated with our weekend summary of the latest happenings.
Taikonauts Depart for Tiangong
Last night, October 31, at 11:44 PM, the Shenzhou-21 was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, carrying three taikonauts to the Tiangong space station. This mission marks the sixth manned mission during Tiangong’s development phase and the 37th in China's manned space program.
The mission's primary goals include completing an in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-20 crew and spending approximately six months at the space station to perform various scientific tasks, including installing space debris protection devices, managing external payloads and equipment, and conducting science education and public benefit activities. The taikonauts will also conduct an experiment involving mice to examine the impacts of space and microgravity on their behavior and physiological growth.
Next year's planned missions include the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft, the Shenzhou-22 and Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflights, and the Mengzhou-1 manned lunar exploration mission. China remains dedicated to its goal of landing Chinese astronauts on the moon by 2030.
Mobile Text Scams Targeting Phone Users
Authorities are advising the public to be vigilant regarding the operator numbers of mobile texts they receive, as numerous individuals have fallen prey to mobile text scams. These scams often use characters that are hard to distinguish, incorporate partially correct operator number components, exploit the public’s lack of knowledge about operator numbers, and engage in impersonation and phishing schemes.
Here are some numbers to watch out for:
- Texts using “l0086” instead of “10086”: In this scam, fraudsters mimic the legitimate 10086 service by using a lowercase “l” in place of the number “1”. When users click on what they believe to be legitimate “10086” links, scammers can access their information or deceive them into revealing personal data.
- Numbers starting with “400”: These numbers are typically meant for enterprises, and legitimate domestic businesses use them for customer service. However, calls originating with “400” numbers are usually one-way. If you receive a call from one of these numbers, it's best not to answer.
- Numbers that begin with “00” or “+”: Per the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, international calls to China must include the prefix “00” (some mobile phones convert this to “+”). If you receive a call from such a number and don’t have overseas contacts, it’s likely linked to fraud.
- Numbers starting with “95”: These are customer service numbers for reputable companies in various sectors, including banking and logistics. Calls or texts from six-digit numbers starting with “95” are generally safe, but be wary of any that exceed this length as they may be fraudulent.
- Numbers beginning with “1068” and “1069”: Messages from these codes are from non-operational third-party text messaging services. Some businesses have illegally sold numbers for scammers to use, so exercise caution before engaging with any texts from these sources.
Often, links in scam texts may redirect users to malicious sites prompting them to input personal information, which scammers can then exploit to access bank accounts or other sensitive information, potentially leading to financial losses.
Scammers may impersonate employees, call to promote fraudulent point-for-money exchanges, and request verification codes or passwords. They can also falsely claim to run promotions, seeking various types of verification to defraud individuals.
Expat residents, who might not frequently interact with Chinese-language texts or calls, or might have varying levels of Chinese language proficiency, may perceive these scams as less risky. Nevertheless, foreigners should remain cautious with mobile communication that could involve sensitive information.
WeChat Pay Launches in Thailand
Paying while abroad may have become simpler as WeChat collaborates with Thailand’s PromptPay platform, allowing travelers to utilize PromptPay in Thailand. Visitors can now scan PromptPay codes with WeChat at participating locations and make payments directly in RMB, without the need for currency conversion to baht.
WeChat already had a presence in Thailand, primarily limited to select businesses like airports, hotels, metro systems, and a few smaller local shops. This new partnership expands payment options to many more merchants across the country.
PromptPay, one of Thailand's most popular payment platforms established in 2016 by the Bank of Thailand for interbank transfers, becomes more accessible through WeChat. This integration not only simplifies the experience for tourists but also reflects the increasing trend of cashless transactions in daily life globally.
Currently, it is unclear if this service is available for expats traveling from China to Thailand or if the payment option is accessible via the international version of WeChat as well as Weixin. Nonetheless, this move towards greater convenience is undoubtedly a positive advancement.
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