Tourist Scams in Israel

Self-appointed "guides" approach tourists at the Jaffa Gate, Damascus Gate, and along the Via Dolorosa offering to show them the Old City's highlights. They claim entrance to certain sites is only possible with a guide, or that there is a special ceremony today that requires their assistance. The actual purpose is to steer tourists through shops owned by associates where aggressive sales and heavily inflated prices await, with the guide receiving a commission on purchases.

How to avoid: Hire guides only through the Jerusalem Tourism Cluster, your hotel concierge, or licensed operators found at the Christian Information Centre inside Jaffa Gate. Legitimate guides will have a Ministry of Tourism license card. Refuse unsolicited approaches near any Old City gate or major monument and navigate independently using the clearly marked walking routes inside the Old City.

Several restaurants near Jaffa Gate and along tourist routes in the Old City operate without posted menus or price lists, enabling them to charge wildly inflated prices after the meal is finished. In the most documented case, a tourist was charged 10,100 NIS (approximately $2,800) for a standard shawarma platter. A former employee revealed to Israeli television that the scam involves quoting a price in shekels verbally but charging that same number in US dollars or euros. Complimentary-seeming starters such as hummus, salads, and pita are delivered unasked and then charged separately at tourist-targeting prices.

How to avoid: Always demand a menu with prices listed before ordering anything. If no written menu is provided, leave immediately. Confirm the currency before paying, and if a bill seems wrong, photograph the receipt and contact local consumer protection authorities or tourist police.

Souvenir and religious goods vendors in the Muslim Quarter and along the Via Dolorosa use aggressive pricing tactics against pilgrims who are emotionally engaged with the religious significance of the location. Items including olive wood crosses, Jerusalem stone carvings, and Dead Sea cosmetics are sold at prices five to ten times their value in shops one street away from the main tourist route.

How to avoid: Compare prices in at least three shops before purchasing any souvenir. The Cardo in the Jewish Quarter and shops in East Jerusalem outside the Old City walls offer similar items at lower prices. Pilgrimage groups are specifically targeted—individual browsing without group pressure allows for more rational price comparison.

Unlicensed drivers waiting in the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion Airport offer rides to Tel Aviv at flat rates that appear competitive but are two to three times the metered fare. They may also take long routes and claim toll charges that do not exist.

How to avoid: Use only the official metered taxis from the designated rank outside Arrivals Level G, or take the direct train from the airport to Tel Aviv HaHagana station. Always insist the meter is running.

Fraudulent listings impersonating legitimate Jerusalem hotels and guesthouses appear on booking platforms and fake clone websites, particularly targeting visitors booking accommodation near the Old City. Scammers collect deposits or full payment via wire transfer or third-party payment apps, then either disappear or claim the property is fully booked on arrival. The issue surged after the 2023-2024 conflict period as legitimate supply dropped and demand from pilgrims and journalists spiked. Victims discover on arrival that no reservation exists, leaving them stranded in an unfamiliar city.

How to avoid: Book only through major platforms with verified reviews and pay by credit card — never wire transfer. Verify the hotel exists by calling the property directly using a phone number found independently, not from the listing. Cross-check the address on Google Maps Street View before arrival.

On the descending steps and approach lanes leading to the Western Wall (Kotel) plaza, elderly women and men approach tourists and pilgrims offering a brief prayer or blessing and tying a red Kabbalah string around the tourist's wrist. The interaction is initiated without any mention of payment. Once the string is tied, the person demands a "donation" ranging from 20 to 100 NIS. Tourists who refuse or offer a small amount are confronted with guilt, spiritual curses, or aggressive demands. The red string itself is ordinary thread with no religious certification.

How to avoid: Politely decline any unsolicited approaches near the Western Wall plaza. Keep your wrists close to your body and do not extend your arm to anyone approaching. If a string is tied before you can react, you are not obligated to pay anything — firmly decline and walk toward the security area.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and its immediate surroundings experience concentrated pickpocketing, particularly during peak pilgrimage periods (Easter, Christmas, Orthodox celebrations) when crowds are dense and emotional engagement is high. Teams work the queue to enter the Edicule (Christ's tomb) and the narrow lanes of the Christian Quarter approaching the church from Muristan Road.

How to avoid: Keep valuables in a front-facing money belt or inner jacket pocket before entering the church complex. Be particularly alert in the queue for the Edicule where physical crowding is unavoidable. Avoid carrying a backpack to the rear—transfer valuables to front pockets. If you feel someone touching you, move away immediately and check your belongings.

Vendors at Machane Yehuda market invite tourists to taste samples of herbal or fruit teas with no mention of price. Once the tourist has tasted — or sometimes before they can decline — a large bag is packaged and a high price is demanded, typically 80 to 200 NIS for a small quantity of tea worth a fraction of that amount. Refusal results in aggressive pressure, public shaming, or blocking the narrow market lane. The scam was reported on TripAdvisor in late 2025 and is a consistent complaint from independent visitors to the market.

How to avoid: Only accept tasting samples at stalls with clearly posted prices. If no price is shown, ask before tasting. If a vendor packages items without your agreement, politely but firmly decline as you are not obligated to pay for unsolicited goods. Walk away if pressure escalates; the market has police patrols.