Tourist Scams in Cambodia

Rental shops in Kampot photograph your motorbike before rental but claim new scratches or damage upon return that were pre-existing. Inflated repair costs are then demanded, sometimes holding your passport as leverage. This is one of the most reported scams in town, particularly targeting long-term renters who cannot monitor the bike constantly.

How to avoid: Photograph and video the entire bike from all angles before leaving the shop. Never hand over your passport as a deposit — use a photocopy instead. Pay only for documented damage from the rental period.

A seemingly friendly local — often well-dressed and fluent in English — approaches tourists near Kampot's riverside strip or at guesthouses and invites them to a private home for a card game or social gathering. Once inside, victims are pressured or coerced into playing rigged card games and lose large sums of money. In more serious incidents reported across Cambodia, victims have been forced at gunpoint to withdraw cash from ATMs. Multiple government advisories including the US State Department, Australian DFAT, and Canadian DFAT have flagged this as an active scheme.

How to avoid: Never accept invitations to private homes from strangers you have just met, regardless of how friendly or legitimate they seem. If someone insists on showing you a "local experience" or card game, decline firmly. Tell your guesthouse where you are going if you accept any invitation from a new acquaintance.

Criminals on motorbikes snatch phones, bags, and cameras from pedestrians and tuk-tuk passengers in Phnom Penh. Australian Smartraveller and the US State Department both flag this as one of the most common crimes against visitors, with incidents increasing in 2024.

How to avoid: Hold bags on the side away from the road. Keep phones in pockets when not actively using them. Sit inside a tuk-tuk rather than on the outer edge. Be particularly alert near the riverfront and Russian Market.

Tuk-tuk drivers at Angkor Wat and other temples claim the main entrance is closed or that tourists need a special guide to access a particular area. They redirect tourists to shops, restaurants, or "floating villages" where they earn commission. Angkor temples close only on rare official occasions.

How to avoid: Verify temple opening hours directly with your hotel or the official Angkor Enterprise website. Walk to the main entrance yourself to confirm access. Dismiss all claims from tuk-tuk drivers about closures without independent verification.

Tuk-tuk drivers in Kampot have no meters and often quote tourists three to five times the local rate, especially from the bus station and ferry docks. Drivers also inflate prices for trips to Bokor Hill Station or the pepper farms. Some agree on a price then demand more upon arrival, claiming the distance was longer than expected.

How to avoid: Ask your guesthouse for standard fare prices before you travel. Agree on the exact fare before getting in and confirm there are no additional charges. Apps like PassApp sometimes work in Kampot for comparison.

Bokor Hill Station — Kampot's most visited attraction — has been identified as an active area for organized criminal compounds operating online fraud and human trafficking operations. In August 2025, a 22-year-old South Korean student was found tortured to death near a criminal complex on Bokor Mountain, prompting South Korea to issue a Level 4 "do not travel" warning specifically for the Bokor Mountain area of Kampot province. Cambodian authorities warned in late 2025 that scam compounds displaced from Sihanoukville were relocating to the Bokor Mountain area. While regular tourist visits to the main ruins still occur, the surrounding areas and roads leading away from the main site have been flagged by multiple governments as having active criminal operations.

How to avoid: Visit Bokor Hill Station as part of a reputable organized tour group rather than riding solo on a rented motorbike, especially after dark. Do not explore off-trail areas or buildings beyond the main tourist sites. Avoid accepting rides or invitations from strangers near the mountain. Check your government's current travel advisory before visiting — South Korea, Australia, and Canada had active warnings for this area as of late 2025.

Bags, phones, and valuables left unattended on the beach while swimming are targeted by opportunist thieves who work in pairs, with one person distracting bystanders. Otres Beach and the areas around Serendipity are most frequently affected, particularly during peak visiting hours.

How to avoid: Never leave valuables unattended on the beach. Use waterproof pouches to keep phones and cards on your person while swimming, or take turns in the water with a travel companion. Most guesthouses have a safe or secure bag storage service.

Tuk-tuk and moto-taxi drivers at Sihanoukville bus stops, the ferry pier, and along Serendipity Beach Road routinely quote foreign visitors three to five times the local rate for short rides. Prices are non-metered and based entirely on negotiation, with drivers frequently claiming there is a fixed tourist rate or that fuel prices have increased.

How to avoid: Use PassApp or Grab, which operate in Sihanoukville and provide metered fares. If taking a tuk-tuk, agree the fare before boarding and confirm it is in US dollars or riel as appropriate. Ask your guesthouse for the current expected fare to your destination before stepping outside.