Is Bali Safe in January 2026?

Scammers create fraudulent villa listings on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp using stolen photos from legitimate Bali properties. Victims transfer large deposits to personal bank accounts or via cryptocurrency, only to find the villa does not exist or is unavailable on arrival. Bali's Villa Rental Managers Association recorded over 101 victims in 2025, with losses reaching hundreds of millions of rupiah. The scam is most prevalent during peak season when genuine availability is tight.

How to avoid: Only book through platforms with buyer protection such as Airbnb, Booking.com, or Agoda. Never transfer money directly to a private account, Western Union, or crypto wallet. Do a reverse Google Image search on villa photos to check if they are stolen from another property.

Scooter rental shops in Seminyak, Canggu, and Ubud photograph bikes after return and allege new damage caused by the renter. Some shops scratch the bike themselves between drop-off and inspection. Renters who left a passport as deposit are leveraged for inflated repair costs of $50–$300.

How to avoid: Film a detailed walkaround video of the scooter before leaving — send it to your own email immediately for timestamping. Never leave your actual passport as a deposit; use a cash deposit. Rent only from shops with transparent pricing and strong recent reviews.

Private drivers and local guides take tourists to specific restaurants, warungs, and souvenir shops that pay the driver a commission of 20 to 40 percent on sales. These establishments inflate prices to cover commissions, meaning tourists pay significantly more than at independently chosen venues. Drivers typically claim the destination restaurant is the best or very local while steering visitors away from cheaper alternatives the tourists had already requested.

How to avoid: Research restaurants independently on Google Maps or TripAdvisor and navigate there directly using Grab or Gojek. If using a private driver for a full day, be explicit that you will choose your own dining spots. Politely decline restaurant suggestions when you have already identified a venue.

Unmetered taxis and rideshare impostors outside tourist areas agree on a price at pickup, then demand much more at the destination, claiming they misunderstood or that the price was per person. Some refuse to move until paid.

How to avoid: Use Gojek or Grab apps for transparent pricing. Agree on a firm total price before entering any unmetered vehicle. For airport rides, use the official prepaid taxi counter.

Third-party websites rank highly in Google searches for Bali e-VOA or Indonesia visa on arrival, charging inflated fees sometimes three to five times the official rate to process applications travelers could complete themselves on the official immigration site. Some sites collect payment and personal data without submitting anything, leaving travelers without a valid visa on arrival. The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has specifically flagged rising visa agent fraud in Indonesia.

How to avoid: Only apply for Indonesian visas through the official immigration portal at molina.imigrasi.go.id. The domain must end in .go.id — any other domain is unofficial. Check the current fee on the official site before paying anyone.