All over China you’ll see phone numbers on stickers or spray painted on buildings, rubble, signs and even on the street itself advertising many interesting services. They’re called “little commercials” 小广告 and they’re all over the place.

In Shanghai, the majority of these ads are for either professional drilling or sanding, or (as in the picture) fake certificates, diplomas, licenses, or official business stamps/chops. These are the tamer ones. In Shenzhen I remember seeing many ads for private investigators for hire to stalk your potentially cheating partner, and Ellen even saw one advertising date rape drugs.

It always seemed very strange to me that someone would advertise an illegal service and leave their contact number, especially in the case of the pretty bad ones. I’m no detective but I mean couldn’t the police just, I don’t know… call up these guys?