We've documented 2302+ scams across 581 cities. Knowing how they work is your best defense.
Someone squirts a substance on you. A 'helpful' stranger cleans you while accomplice picks pockets.
A drug that renders victims compliant and unable to remember what happened. Administered through spiked drinks, blown powder, laced paper, or perfume ...
Attractive profiles on Tinder, Bumble, and Instagram arrange to meet tourists, then spike drinks or lead them to locations where accomplices rob them.
Victims are forced into a taxi or car and driven to ATMs to withdraw cash under threat. This is real and happens, though less frequently in tourist ne...
Someone squirts a substance on you, then an 'helpful' stranger offers to clean it off while an accomplice picks your pocket.
Friendly strangers near tourist sites tell you the attraction is closed for a holiday/ceremony and offer to take you to a 'special' temple or shop ins...
You're told about a 'government gem sale' or 'once-a-year export opportunity.' The gems are worthless glass sold at massive markups. Often connected t...
More common in beach areas like Pattaya and Phuket, but also at river activities in Bangkok. Operators claim you damaged the jet ski and demand thousa...
Showing 8 of 576 other scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.
Taxi drivers swap your real bills for counterfeits during change-making.
Scammers in police-like uniforms stop tourists and demand to inspect wallets, claiming to look for counterfeit bills. They pocket cash during inspecti...
Touts claim your destination is 'closed for prayers' and redirect you.
Unofficial car guards demand payment for 'watching' your car. Some are legitimate informal workers, others are not. Refusing can occasionally lead to ...
Fake roadblocks or officers demand wallet.
Non-existent or terrible safari packages sold cheaply.
'Greek leather' goods that are synthetic.
Clipboard petition is distraction while accomplice picks pockets.
Showing 8 of 537 impersonation scams scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.
Long routes, rigged meters. Airport taxis are worst.
Some drivers run rigged meters, take long routes, or refuse to use the meter and demand inflated prices.
Someone approaches at the airport or busy areas claiming to be your Uber. They're not. Could lead to robbery or overcharging at minimum.
Tuk-tuk drivers offer suspiciously cheap rides (10-20 baht) but take you to gem shops, tailors, and travel agencies where they earn commission from yo...
Drivers set the meter to the night rate during the day, take long routes, or claim the meter is broken and demand a flat fee.
Meters 'broken' or long routes.
Some drivers inflate prices, especially from airport.
Meters not used or 'broken.' Especially airport taxis.
Showing 8 of 344 transport scams scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.
First price can be 10x the real value. Vendors are skilled negotiators who read your interest.
Extras added to bill — bread basket charged, wrong items.
Very rare, unlike Istanbul. Some tourist restaurants mark up.
Unofficial guides demand large tips.
Cheap safaris with hidden costs, poor vehicles, and large groups.
Restaurants directly on Old Town Square charge 3-5x normal Prague prices. Some have different prices for tourists and locals, or add items to your bil...
Some establishments, especially in tourist areas, inflate prices, don't show prices on menus, or add excessive service charges. Strip clubs are partic...
Some establishments may inflate prices for tourists or add unexpected charges to bills, particularly in areas with heavy tourist traffic.
Showing 8 of 324 overcharging scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.
Card skimmers on ATMs, particularly in tourist areas and convenience stores. Also, people watching over your shoulder.
Teams watch PIN, then distract while card is swapped.
Some exchangers give bad rates.
Change given in smaller denominations.
Shell game operators set up near Sacré-Cœur and other tourist spots. The crowd around them includes accomplices who pretend to win. You cannot win — i...
Exchange offices in tourist areas offer terrible rates with hidden fees and commissions. Some advertise '0% commission' but have a massive spread betw...
Someone drops coins or bills near you and asks for help picking them up. While you're distracted, an accomplice picks your pocket.
Devices placed on ATMs or card readers to steal banking information, though less common due to widespread chip-and-pin adoption in Netherlands.
Showing 8 of 237 money & currency scams scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.
Teams work the subway, especially Line D during rush hours.
Belongings left on the beach while swimming are stolen quickly. Organized thieves watch for distracted tourists.
Phones grabbed on the street constantly. The most common crime against visitors.
Minibus taxis (matatus) are pickpocket havens.
Professional teams on metro, especially Line 3 to airport and at Syntagma.
Professional teams on La Rambla, Metro, beaches, Sagrada Família. Distraction techniques — petitions, flower giving, group crowding.
Leave bags while swimming — gone in seconds.
Phones grabbed from hands, especially near train station and northern areas.
Showing 8 of 164 theft & pickpocketing scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.
Young men offer to lead you through the medina. They demand payment and may lead you to shops for commission.
Tuk-tuk drivers take you to commission shops.
Cheap guides without proper training or insurance.
Aggressive tour offers at Gateway of India. Overpriced boat trips.
Restaurants directly facing major landmarks charge 3-5x normal prices, add hidden 'service charges' and 'coperto' fees, and serve mediocre food. Some ...
Street sellers offer already-validated tickets at discount prices, but these are invalid and result in fines if caught.
People dressed as Mozart sell overpriced tickets to mediocre classical concerts on the street, particularly near the Opera House. These concerts exist...
Fraudulent online ticket sales for Edinburgh Festival events, particularly during peak season. Victims pay for tickets that are never delivered or rec...
Showing 8 of 94 tour & ticket scams scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.
A friendly Turkish man strikes up conversation, suggests going to a nice bar. Attractive women join. At the end, you get a bill for hundreds or thousa...
Men approach tourists whispering offers to sell marijuana or cocaine, particularly around Rossio square and in Bairro Alto at night. The drugs are oft...
Locals befriend tourists and invite them to specific bars where they're charged inflated prices for drinks. The 'locals' receive kickbacks from the es...
Attractive locals invite tourists to specific bars where drink prices are inflated 5-10 times normal rates, with security enforcing payment.
Friendly locals approach tourists suggesting specific bars or restaurants, then disappear when the inflated bill arrives.
Friendly locals approach tourists and invite them to specific bars where the tourist ends up paying inflated bills for everyone's drinks.
Strangers on dating apps or met in person invite tourists to specific bars where inflated bills of 5-10 times normal prices are demanded. Security gua...
Attractive woman approaches tourist, orders expensive drinks, then leaves them with huge bill enforced by threatening men.
Showing 8 of 26 bar & drink scams scams. Browse individual city guides for complete details.