Other Tourist Scams in Cape Town, South Africa
Timeshares, fake police, charity fraud, and miscellaneous scams targeting visitors. Below are the other scams scams reported in Cape Town — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Mombasa.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Other Scams Scams
10
Total in Cape Town
How it works
Thieves smash car windows at traffic lights and grab bags, phones, and laptops left visible on seats — the entire theft takes under 10 seconds. This is one of Cape Town's most consistently reported tourist dangers, occurring on the N2 highway between Cape Town International Airport and the city centre, along De Waal Drive, and at slow-moving intersections in the CBD including Buitenkant Street and Roeland Street. Thieves on foot or bicycle often work in pairs, with one creating a distraction as the other strikes.
How it works
At the scenic pull-off viewpoints on Chapman's Peak Drive between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, thieves — sometimes working with unofficial "parking attendants" — wait for tourists to lock their cars and walk toward the viewpoint before breaking a window and stealing bags, passports, and cameras within seconds. The theft typically takes under 60 seconds and lookout accomplices position themselves to block the tourist's line of sight to the vehicle.
How it works
In Cape Town tourist areas, unofficial parking attendants in fluorescent reflective vests claim to watch your car and demand R20–50 upon return, sometimes threatening implied damage if payment is declined. They operate without any municipal authorisation, though some areas do have a legitimate City-run scheme with badged wardens. The distinction is hard to verify on the spot. Common spots include the V&A Waterfront outer lots, Sea Point beachfront, Camps Bay, and Kirstenbosch Gardens car park.
See all scams in Cape Town
10 total warnings across all categories