Money & ATM Scams in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Card skimming, currency exchange fraud, dynamic currency conversion, and cash cons. Below are the money & atm scams scams reported in Buenos Aires — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Medellín, Lima, and Bogotá.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Money & ATM Scams Scams
12
Total in Buenos Aires
How it works
Men offering "cambio cambio" (exchange exchange) on Florida Street offer black-market peso rates above the official rate. They shortchange tourists with sleight of hand or give counterfeit peso notes mixed with genuine ones.
How it works
Street moneychangers (arbolitos) on Florida Street offer the "blue dollar" (black market exchange rate) which is higher than the official rate. Tourists are often shortchanged using sleight of hand or given counterfeit pesos.
How it works
Criminals install card-trapping devices inside ATM card slots at machines concentrated in the Microcentro financial district, particularly along Reconquista, San Martín, and the Florida Street bank corridor. When the card gets stuck, a nearby "helpful" stranger advises you to re-enter your PIN multiple times to dislodge it — capturing the PIN visually or via a hidden camera — before suggesting you contact your bank. The card is retrieved by the criminal after you leave.
See all scams in Buenos Aires
12 total warnings across all categories