Tourist Scams in Paraguay

Tourists who buy electronics at Ciudad del Este (Paraguay main shopping destination, 1 hour from Asuncion) sometimes find the sealed box contains a cheaper model, a brick, or defective goods. The swap happens at the point of sale using a sleight-of-hand box exchange, particularly in unlicensed stalls in the main market buildings on Avenida San Blas.

How to avoid: Open and test every electronic item before leaving the shop, regardless of pressure from the seller. Check the serial number on the box matches the device. Buy from shops that provide a printed receipt and have a physical storefront rather than a temporary stall. Keep the receipt for any warranty claim.

Around Mercado 4, Asuncion main informal market, motorbike riders operate in pairs and snatch bags, phones, and cameras from pedestrians walking on the pavement. The approach is from behind and the theft takes seconds, making pursuit impossible. Avenida Pettirossi and surrounding streets are known hotspots for this pattern.

How to avoid: Carry bags on the shoulder away from the road and keep phones in a front pocket or zipped compartment. Avoid using your phone while walking along kerbside pavements near Mercado 4. If you are targeted, do not resist — the physical risk is higher than the value of most stolen items.

The Paraguayan guaraní trades at approximately 7,000 to 1 USD, making simple transactions confusing for new arrivals. Street vendors, informal traders, and some restaurants exploit this by short-changing tourists who cannot quickly calculate correct amounts. Counterfeit 50,000 and 100,000 guaraní notes have also been documented in circulation.

How to avoid: Familiarise yourself with the current exchange rate before arrival and download a currency converter app. Count change carefully before leaving any counter. Use ATMs at banks rather than informal exchange booths, and inspect large-denomination notes for security features.

Unlicensed taxi drivers at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport aggressively approach arriving passengers and charge inflated flat rates, often three to five times the legitimate fare into central Asunción. Drivers may claim meters are broken or that official taxis are unavailable. Some will quote a price in USD to obscure the real value.

How to avoid: Use only the official taxi counter inside the arrivals terminal with a printed receipt. Agree on the fare before entering any vehicle. Rideshare apps such as inDriver operate in Asunción and offer a safer alternative.

Mercado 4 is Asunción's largest informal market and one of South America's biggest street markets, drawing large crowds daily. Pickpockets and distraction thieves operate in the densely packed aisles, often working in pairs — one engages the target while the other lifts wallets, phones, or bag contents. Bag slashing has been reported on the outer perimeter of the market.

How to avoid: Carry only essential cash in a front pocket or money belt. Keep phones out of sight and bags zipped and held in front of the body. Avoid displaying expensive cameras or electronics. Visit during daylight hours and leave before dusk.

A person in plain clothes or partial uniform near the Palacio de Gobierno and the downtown pedestrian zone stops tourists claiming to investigate counterfeit guarani or drug activity, demanding wallet and passport inspection. Paraguay has no legal basis for a plainclothes officer to conduct a street wallet inspection, and the goal is to extract cash or demand a bribe to avoid a fabricated fine.

How to avoid: Real Paraguayan National Police wear full uniform and carry ID. Ask to walk together to the nearest comisaria if you are stopped. Genuine officers accept this; scammers refuse. Keep a decoy wallet with a small amount of cash separate from your main funds.

Skimming devices have been reported on ATMs in downtown Asunción's commercial district, particularly on standalone machines not attached to bank branches. Card data and PIN captures are used to clone cards and make fraudulent withdrawals. Tampered keypads and false card readers are the most common methods used.

How to avoid: Use ATMs inside bank branches during business hours only. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Check the card slot for any loose or unusual attachments before inserting your card. Notify your bank of international travel before arriving.

Self-appointed guides near the Palacio de Gobierno and the Panteon Nacional de los Heroes offer to walk tourists through Asuncion historic centre for a small agreed fee, then demand significantly more at the end of the tour. Some claim a mandatory government guide licence fee was not included in the original price.

How to avoid: Agree on the exact final price in guarani before starting any informal tour and get it in writing or witnessed by your hotel. Reject any attempt to add fees at the end. The historic centre is walkable independently with a free map from your hotel.