Street Scams in Jakarta, Indonesia
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Jakarta — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, and Vang Vieng.
Last updated: April 7, 2026
2
Street Scams Scams
9
Total in Jakarta
How it works
Plain-clothes individuals claiming to be undercover police stop tourists near Glodok or Jalan Jaksa, demanding to inspect passports and wallets for "counterfeit currency" checks. The interaction is designed to identify where cash is kept or to extract a bribe.
How it works
Near the entrance to Istiqlal Mosque and around Monas, men place handmade bracelets on tourists' wrists without asking, then aggressively demand payment of 50,000-200,000 IDR, refusing to remove the bracelet until paid.
See all scams in Jakarta
9 total warnings across all categories
More about Jakarta