The areas of Beijing with the highest property prices also have the largest number of fraud cases in the city, likely because scammers are targeting more affluent areas, according to a local newspaper.

China South Industries Group Corp (CSGC) recently bought a piece of land in Dongsheng town in Haidian district for 28, 308 yuan per sq m, which edges out a development in Dawangjing village (bought by the Sino-Ocean Land real estate company for 27,500 yuan per sq m) as the most expensive piece of property in the city.

But police say 20 fraud cases were reported in Dawangjing village, accounting for 62.5 percent of all criminal cases in the area in 2009, the Mirror Evening News reported on Monday.

Most scammers in Dawangjing used text messages, the Internet or popular instant messaging computer program QQ, according to the newspaper.

"Most residents in the area are high-income people who frequently use the Internet and mobile phones and many hi-tech companies, such as Siemens AG, Panasonic Corp and the LG Group, have a sizable presence there, making them major targets of swindlers," a Chaoyang police officer was quoted by local media as saying.

Dongsheng town had 12 fraud cases reported in 2009, accounting for 60 percent of all reported crime in the area.

"Many residents in the area are elderly people who are possibly unfamiliar with Internet and mobile phone scams or college students who don't have much life experience," said Lu Zheng, director of Beijing Zhongguangweitian Law Firm, who has handled many such cases in Haidian district.

"The students and the elderly easily trust other people and sometimes get cheated," said Lu.

Residents of these high-priced neighborhoods are also statistically more likely to have their vehicles broken into than other Beijingers, according to the Mirror Evening News.

Thieves broke into at least six cars in Dawangjing in 2009.

"There are not enough parking lots for local residents, so many owners park their vehicles on the streets, creating many opportunities for thieves," said Yi Li, deputy director of the research department of Chaoyang Court.

Yi said Volkswagen, Buick and Honda are the three auto brands that thieves particularly target.

"The increase in real estate prices in Dawangjing means new residents to the area will likely be affluent, making the area even more attractive for car thieves, so we strongly suggest people not leave any valuables in their vehicles overnight," she added.