Money & ATM Scams in Cologne, Germany

How it works

Euronet-branded ATMs and some restaurant card terminals throughout central Cologne offer tourists the option to pay in their home currency (USD, GBP, AUD etc.) rather than euros — a practice called dynamic currency conversion. Selecting the home-currency option routes the conversion through the merchant's rate, which typically carries a 5–15% markup over the mid-market rate, representing a significant hidden fee. The interface is designed to make the home-currency option appear more convenient or highlighted, while the euro option is grayed out or displayed less prominently. Tourist-heavy areas around the Dom have a high density of these ATMs.

How it works

Criminals attach skimming devices to ATM card slots and place hidden cameras above PIN pads to capture card data and PINs simultaneously. The data is used to clone cards and drain accounts, sometimes within hours. Standalone ATMs in tourist areas and transit hubs are most frequently targeted. Cologne Hauptbahnhof and the Altstadt have a concentration of non-bank ATMs that are harder to inspect and less regularly audited than those inside bank branches. A related tactic involves an apparent "helpful stranger" who distracts a victim at an ATM or offers to assist after a card is declined, aiming to observe the PIN.

How it works

Criminals circulate counterfeit 20 and 50 euro notes in tourist-heavy cash environments, including market stalls, street food vendors, and informal transactions around the Dom and Altstadt. The UK FCDO explicitly warns that British nationals have been arrested for unknowingly trying to spend counterfeit notes they received as change — tourists are victimised twice, first losing real money, then facing police scrutiny. The Bundesbank reported a 28% rise in counterfeit euro notes in Germany in 2024, with €4.5 million in fake notes identified.