Tourist Scams in Dominican Republic

Bank card cloning and identity theft are formally documented risks in Santo Domingo, flagged by the UK FCDO, Canadian government, and US State Department in their Dominican Republic travel advisories. Criminals install skimming devices on card terminals and ATMs, particularly at standalone machines outside bank branches. Card data is harvested and used for unauthorized transactions, often noticed only after the tourist has departed.

How to avoid: Use ATMs located inside bank branches or major hotel lobbies rather than standalone street machines. Shield the keypad when entering your PIN. Check your account for unauthorized charges within 24 hours of any ATM use. Consider using a dedicated travel card with low limits.

Drive-by robbery by thieves on motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles is a formally documented and increasing threat in Santo Domingo. The US Embassy issued a specific advisory in June 2025 warning citizens against using motoconchos (informal motorcycle taxis) and flagging motorcycle-based street crime. Criminals approach pedestrians at speed, snatch phones, bags, or jewelry, and accelerate away before victims can react. The tactic can cause physical injury when items are worn or held tightly. The National Police reported a significant concentration of armed robberies in Santo Domingo in 2025.

How to avoid: Keep phones out of sight when walking on streets, particularly on the Malecón and busy tourist routes. Carry bags across the body with the strap on the side away from traffic. Remove visible jewelry before walking in public areas. If a motorcyclist slows alongside you, move toward a building entrance or group of people. Use ride-hailing apps like Uber rather than walking long distances in unfamiliar neighborhoods.

Unlicensed taxi drivers and informal fixers at Las Américas International Airport target arriving tourists with fares that can be two to three times the standard rate for the 30-minute drive into Santo Domingo. Drivers sometimes quote in USD for maximum effect and use traffic as justification for higher prices. Some taxis divert through unofficial stops adding time and cost to the journey.

How to avoid: Use only official OMSA taxis from the regulated rank outside arrivals or pre-book a transfer through your hotel. Standard fare to the Zona Colonial should be approximately USD 35-45. Agree the price before getting in. Ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering transport.

The Dominican Republic requires all arriving and departing travelers to complete a free online e-ticket via the official government migration portal. Fraudulent websites that closely mimic the official government site appear prominently in search engine results and charge tourists between $36 and $90 USD for this free service. The Dominican General Directorate of Migration issued a formal public warning about these fake portals in June 2025. Victims submit personal information and payment to fraudulent sites and may receive a convincing but non-functional QR code.

How to avoid: Only use the official Dominican migration e-ticket portal at eticket.migracion.gob.do — note the .gob.do domain which indicates an official Dominican government site. The service is completely free. If any website requests payment for the e-ticket, it is fraudulent. Book directly through the official portal rather than via search engine top results, which may be paid advertisements for fake sites.

Tourists are approached at the pool or beach and told they have won a prize — excursion, free dinner, or shopping voucher — redeemable by attending a brief presentation. The presentation lasts 3–5 hours with extreme sales pressure to purchase vacation club memberships.

How to avoid: Decline all prize notifications from resort staff or third parties. There are no free prizes attached to time share presentations.

Motoconcho (motorcycle taxi) drivers in Las Terrenas routinely charge tourists 3-5 times the local rate, especially from the beach strip to outlying areas. Prices are never metered and drivers quote whatever they believe the tourist will accept. Some drivers take deliberately long routes to inflate the perceived distance.

How to avoid: Ask your hotel or a local business what the standard motoconcho rate is for your specific route before flagging one down. Agree firmly on the price in pesos before mounting, and do not pay more than agreed on arrival.

Unofficial drivers at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) stand in the arrivals hall holding printed signs bearing resort names — Barceló, Iberostar, Hard Rock, Riu — that are indistinguishable from legitimate hotel transfer signs. They approach newly arrived passengers, confirm the resort name, and usher them toward private vehicles before demanding $150–200 USD for the 45-kilometer transfer to Bávaro — three to four times the legitimate rate of $25–30 per person on a shared shuttle or $80–100 for a private transfer booked through the resort.

How to avoid: Pre-arrange your transfer directly through your resort or a verified operator before departure. On arrival, proceed to the official hotel meet-and-greet area past the first wave of drivers; your legitimate driver will have your full name, not just the resort name. Confirm the driver's identity with the resort's front desk number if in doubt.

Vendors on Playa Las Terrenas and Playa Bonita patrol the beach persistently offering coconuts, sarongs, jewelry, hair braiding, and sunglasses at grossly inflated prices. After any positive engagement — including eye contact — vendors follow tourists for extended distances and become verbally persistent when refused.

How to avoid: Do not make eye contact or respond to initial approaches. A calm no gracias without further engagement is most effective. Resort-adjacent beach sections typically have vendor-free zones enforced by security.